Department for Transport

Aviation

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to discuss with the Department for Communities and Local Government the co-ordination of (a) the drafting of the General Aviation Strategy document, (b) the drawing up of the National Planning Policy Framework and (c) general aviation policy.

Mr John Hayes: The National Planning Policy Framework was published on 27 March 2012 and the General Aviation Strategy on 25 March 2015. Departments across Government are involved in discussing aviation policy, including in relation to general aviation. With regard to (c), Departments across government will be involved in discussing aviation policy, including policy in relation to General Aviation, as we develop the new Aviation Strategy.

Aviation: Infrastructure

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will reclassify general aviation airfields as a national infrastructure issue for which any changes require approval above local authority level.

Mr John Hayes: The government is seeking to better define a strategic network of General Aviation airfields and is engaging with the General and Business Aviation Strategic Forum to do this.

Electric Vehicles

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish its data on the distance an electric vehicle on full charge will travel when travelling at low speeds.

Mr John Hayes: We do not have data to publish on how far an electric vehicle on full charge will travel when travelling at low speeds.

Electric Vehicles

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish its data on the level of NOx emissions and other pollutants produced by the generation of electricity to charge an electric vehicle.

Mr John Hayes: Any pollutants produced will depend on the energy mix in the electricity supply the vehicle is drawing from. There is currently no data available on pollutants produced by the generation of electricity to charge a vehicle.

Department for Transport: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff are seconded to his Department; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.

Mr John Hayes: The Department currently has 14 individuals on secondment from the following organisations: OrganisationNumber Innoaviate Ltdless than 5University of Newcastleless than 5Rail Safety and Standards Boardless than 5Grant Thornton UK LLPless than 5VTECless than 5The Institute of Engineering and Technology of Michael Faraday Houseless than 5HS2less than 5Transport for Greater Manchesterless than 5Sport Englandless than 5Met Policeless than 5Network Railless than 5Deloitteless than 5Highways Englandless than 5Total14* *In line with Data Protection requirements, where there are fewer than 5 members of staff, I am unable to disclose further information.

Department for Transport: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2017 to Question 65407, on procurement, what estimate he has made of the total budget for procurement management in each year since 2010.

Mr John Hayes: Contract management in general is not a specific role in my Department and is considered as only part of the job of the individuals mentioned in the response of 65407. We therefore cannot provide a budget for this part of their roles as the grades of the civil servants and the amount of time required to manage or oversee each contract varies depending on its size, scope and nature.

Roads: Yorkshire and the Humber

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to invest in new road infrastructure in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Mr John Hayes: Since 2012, this and the previous Government have provided £230m to fund local road improvement and maintenance schemes in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Decisions on which schemes to progress are for the respective Local Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships to determine using either local funding or Government funding streams such as the Local Growth Fund. Highways England are expecting to invest in the region of £1bn in Yorkshire and the Humber to deliver major schemes in the Road Investment Strategy (2015-2020). They also plan to spend £71m on smaller scale improvement schemes over the next 3 years.

Department for Transport: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress his Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

Mr John Hayes: The Government has an ambition to sell surplus land and property to generate £5 billion from sales receipts and create capacity for at least 160,000 homes by the end of March 2020.In March we published a Government Review: Making Commercial Terms of Government Land Disposals More Transparent. The report committed to publish details of Government land sales annually, with the first publication in summer 2017. The report will include all sales in 2015/16 and 2016/17. Progress towards meeting the housing ambition is set out in Table 3 of the Public Land for Housing Programme Annual Report published in February 2017. which shows that between 8 May 2015 and 30 September 2016, the Department for Transport released land with capacity for 1,673 homes. Increasing the supply of land for new homes is central to this Government’s vision of a country that works for everyone. As a major landowner the Government has a crucial role to play in managing its estate more efficiently to secure best value for money for the taxpayer, boost growth and help support the building of new homes.

Department for Transport: Management Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 28 February and 7 March 2017 to Questions 64403 and 65695, how much of the procurement spending was for the services of management consultants in each of those years.

Mr John Hayes: Information on Department for Transport’s management consultancy spend is set out in our annual report for each year. These reports can be found at:2015-16 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/552876/dft-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016-web-version.pdf2014-15 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/440269/dft-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-to-2015-_web-version_.pdf2013-14 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324031/dft-annual-report-2014-web.pdf2012-13 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/279571/annual-report-and-accounts-2012-2013.pdf2011-12 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/279570/annual-report-and-accounts-1112.pdf2010-11 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/279568/hc972-01.pdf

Department for Transport: Conditions of Employment

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of staff employed by his Department are employed on a contract which is (a) full-time permanent, (b) part-time permanent, (c) for less than two years' duration, (d) on an agency basis and (e) zero-hours.

Mr John Hayes: The following table provides the data requested for the Department for Transport:   ABCDE As at 31/03/2017Full-time permanentPart-time permanentLess than 2 yearsAgencyZero-hoursNo of staff (headcount)15060110233112754169Less than 5Proportion-73.2%20.7%5.0%1.1%0% The data provided above is to Office for National Statistics standards and both full-time and part-time permanent numbers include staff on loan or secondment.The Department for Transport consists of the central Department and four Executive Agencies: Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, Maritime & Coastguard Agency and Vehicle Certification Agency.

Aviation

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on negotiating the continued participation of the UK in the European open skies arrangements with the EU and third countries after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr John Hayes: On 29 March the UK formally notified its intention to leave the EU. The EU is currently preparing its position ahead of formal EU Exit negotiations, and no negotiations as yet have taken place. The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU and plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and the EU in the field of aviation. The Department for Transport is working closely with the sector to best understand its requirements and to ensure that the outcome of the negotiations serves the interests of both passengers and the aviation industry.

Aviation

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what international rules will govern cross-border general aviation traffic after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr John Hayes: The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including future arrangements for the regulation of cross-border general aviation traffic. Until the UK leaves the EU, EU law continues to apply alongside national rules. The Department for Transport is working closely with the sector to best understand its requirements.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Beverley

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the Maritime and Coastguard Agency decided to save the Beverley Marine Office from closure; and if he will make a statement.

Mr John Hayes: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency conducted a consultation exercise on the Survey and Inspection Transformation programme to determine the optimum locations for Marine Offices. The output of this consultation exercise identified the retention of an office in the Hull/Beverley area as preferable.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Chilterns

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the reports and investigations that have taken place on the Chilterns Aquifer to establish the level of risk posed to the aquifer by the construction of High Speed 2.

Andrew Jones: There have been investigations and assessments carried out to understand the risks posed to the Chilterns Aquifer. This was assessed through the Environmental Impact Assessment process (2013) and reported in the Volume 2, 3 and 5 reports. Since the Environmental Statement, a programme of ground investigation has been carried out in the Chilterns Aquifer which includes over 300 boreholes, 170 groundwater monitoring locations and 100 aquifer tests. The ground investigation information has been used for several further local studies across the Colne Valley, the River Misbourne and Wendover. We will continue to work closely with both the Environment Agency and Affinity Water as the design progresses to ensure adequate steps are taken to protect the aquifer. The specific completed reports and investigations that have taken place on the Chilterns aquifer are as follows: Environmental Statement (2013) As part of the Environmental Statement, impact assessments on the Chilterns Aquifer are presented in the Volume 2, 3 and 5 reports. Volume 5 – Technical Appendices Water Resources Assessments for CFA6 to CFA11 (WR-002-006 to 11)The results of the Volume 5 reports are summarised in the corresponding volume 2 reports for their community forum area.Water resources: Route-wide appendix (WR-001-000)  Ground investigation of Chilterns Aquifer  InvestigationUndertaken to dateFurther plannedBoreholes33676Groundwater level monitoring locations17731Groundwater quality monitoring3925Aquifer permeability tests1088  In addition to the above since the completion of the Environmental Statement we have completed a Technical Note: Wendover Springs Investigation (12 January 2017). Further studies are in progress regarding the River Misbourne and with Affinity Water.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Port of Tyne

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the annual saving to the public purse of closing the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Tyne Marine Office.

Mr John Hayes: As part of the overall Survey and Inspection Transformation Programme, the closure of Tyne Marine Office will save the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) £88k per annum. As a direct response to the feedback received during the consultation, the MCA has retained its presence in the north east of England by opening the exam centre in South Tyneside College.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the implications of the 2050 Pathways document conclusions on his Department's policy on reducing road traffic.

Mr John Hayes: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport have been working closely with wider departments on the preparation of the emissions reduction plan which will set out how we can reduce carbon emissions through the 2020s.

Road Traffic Offences: Cycleways

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to commence the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 2004 on the penalties for vehicles encroaching on cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: I believe that the Honourable Member is referring to the Traffic Management Act 2004. It is true that powers for enforcement of moving traffic contraventions, by local authorities under the Traffic Management Act 2004, have not yet been brought into force outside London (other than the existing powers to enforce contraventions in a bus lane). The Department for Transport’s view is that the Police already have the necessary powers to take action where it is needed. I can confirm that there are no current plans to give local authorities greater powers to enforce moving traffic contraventions.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: Green Belt

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of a combination of more restrictive immigration controls and lower population growth on (a) housing and planning (i) mechanisms and (ii) policy and (b) the amount of building taking place on land in the green belt.

Gavin Barwell: The Housing White Paper sets out the government’s intentions to strengthen national planning policy to build more homes in the right places.Current projections assume that net migration will fall. Nearly two thirds of the growth in households will come from natural change in the population, not net migration. Even if net migration fell by more than projected we would still face a significant housing challenge which requires us to make a step-change in housing delivery. We will be consulting on a standard approach to assessing housing requirement at the earliest opportunity.The Housing White Paper also reaffirms the government’s commitment to Green Belt protection, and proposes amendments to national planning policy that would require greater transparency about what constitutes exceptional circumstances when amending Green Belt boundaries, so that communities can hold their local authorities to account.

Apprentices

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what policies to encourage the provision of apprenticeships by organisations in receipt of Homes and Communities Agency funding (a) are currently in operation and (b) have been in operation at any point since 2009 but are no longer in operation.

Gavin Barwell: (a) The Homes and Communities Agency has run its own apprenticeship scheme since 2012 and eight individuals have completed apprenticeships during this time. Of these, all are permanently employed, including two by the Agency. A further apprentice is in their second year on the current scheme.The Homes and Communities Agency will recruit more apprentices from May 2017. It will endeavour to meet its target number of eighteen apprentices by 31 August 2018.The Homes and Communities Agency manages the Home Building Fund on behalf of the government. It is a £3 billion fund to increase the number of homes built in England. The Home Building Fund does not currently have provisions that apply regarding apprenticeships but this is something that will be considered at the six month review. The Homes and Communities Agency's Accelerated Construction programme, which aims to speed up the rate at which homes are built on publicly owned land, places contractors under an enforceable obligation to produce an Employment and Skills Plan that sets out the process by which they can ensure that skills development and employment initiatives are integrated within their construction scheme for the development.(b) This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Communities and Local Government: Official Hospitality

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has spent on (a) hotels, (b) hospitality, (c) food and drink and (d) transport in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Marcus Jones: My Department gave an answer to Question UIN 194474 on catering and hospitality on 9 April 2014 which included expenditure for financial years 2011-12 to 2013-14 and to Question UIN 176826 on hotels and travel on 7 April 2014 for expenditure relating to 2011-12 and 2012-13.For 2014-15 and 2015-16, total spend on catering and hospitality (including food, and drink) was £22,934 and £15,681.   In 2009-10, the spend on hospitality and catering was £456,142.   Providing accurate spend on transport and hotels would be at a disproportionate cost.

Non-domestic Rates

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department received in business rates for each local authority area in 2015-16; and what estimate his Department has made of the amount which each local authority in England will retain from the business rate levy in each of the next five years.

Mr Marcus Jones: Data on each authority's contribution to the central share in 2015-16 are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-non-domestic-rates-collected-by-councils-in-england-2015-to-2016

Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) deposits were received and (b) disputes were logged by each tenancy deposit scheme in each of the last five years.

Gavin Barwell: The three government approved Tenancy Deposit Schemes in England help ensure that tenants are treated fairly at the end of their tenancy through protecting deposits.A) The number of deposits received/protected in the last five years (live numbers at the end of March for each year) 20122013201420152016Deposit Protection Service (DPS) 856,796997,5051,118,1921,191,5081,405,213MyDeposits 646,621744,410644,802738,853834,453Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) 870,796917,3861,085,1161,135,7691,186,047TOTAL2,374,3852,659,3012,848,1103,066,1303,425,718B) The number of adjudications in the last five years (for each year/not cumulative) 20122013201420152016Deposit Protection Service (DPS)5,6177,2458,9579,75410,912MyDeposits 4,4605,2116,5905,5805,394Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)10,20211,9929,48211,90011,794TOTAL20,27924,44825,02928,23428,100

Private Rented Housing

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people were living in the private rented sector (a) in absolute terms and (b) as a proportion of the population in (i) England, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) Birmingham Northfield constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Gavin Barwell: The Department's English Housing Survey estimates that, in 2015-16, 20 per cent of households in England live in the private rented sector. This equates to about 4.5 million households. Estimates are not available for constituency and the Department does not publish regional estimates.A table with data for the last 10 years can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/595786/2015-16_Section_1_Households_Annex_Tables.xlsx. See AT1.1.

Children: Dental Health

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is planning or undertaking any work to co-ordinate local authority programmes for improving children's oral health.

Mr Marcus Jones: Any plans will be for a future govenment to make.

Homes and Communities Agency: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who makes appointments to the Board of the Homes and Communities Agency; which other organisations or individuals provide advice on those appointments; and at what stage of the process such advice is provided.

Gavin Barwell: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government makes appointments to the Board of the Homes and Communities Agency. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the Parliamentary Secretary (Minister for the Constitution) Chris Skidmore MP, maintain an overview of all public appointments. The Cabinet Office Public Appointments team provide advice as required at each stage of the process.The selection panel for each appointment comprises the Chair of the Board, a senior official from the Department for Communities and Local Government and an independent member with no direct link to the Homes and Communities Agency.

Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has carried out a review of (a) misuses of tenancy deposit schemes by landlords in order to delay or reduce amounts reimbursed and (b) the merits of requiring the landlord rather than the tenant to submit an appeal for deposit money.

Gavin Barwell: The Tenancy Deposit Schemes in England currently protect over 3 million deposits on behalf of tenants, helping to raise standards in the private rented sector and ensuring that tenants are treated fairly at the end of their tenancy.If there is a dispute about the amount of the deposit to be returned, the tenant and the landlord can either agree to use the free Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service provided by the Tenancy Deposit Protection schemes or go to court. Where both the landlord and tenant agree to using the ADR service the case will be handled by an independent, impartial and qualified Adjudicator, and a decision will be made within 28 days. The deposit is the tenant’s money and landlords should be prepared to provide appropriate evidence where they believe they are entitled to retain any of the deposit.Of the 13.2 million deposits which have been protected since the launch of the scheme, less than 1.5 per cent have gone to adjudication.

Letting Agents: North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will host additional workshops in the North East on letting agents' fees.

Gavin Barwell: At present, no additional workshops are planned.

Housing: Derelict Land

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 111 of the National Planning Policy Framework published by his Department in March 2012, what his policy is on the development of brownfield land classified as being of high environmental value; and whether he has plans to amend paragraph 111 of the National Planning Policy Framework in order to (a) limit and (b) prohibit such development.

Gavin Barwell: This Government has committed to increasing the take-up of brownfield sites for development, especially for new homes. Our National Planning Policy Framework asks local authorities to encourage re-use of brownfield sites wherever practicable, and the law now requires each local authority to maintain a register of local brownfield sites suitable for housing. However, for a brownfield site to be suitable to redevelop, it should not be of high environmental value. In the Government’s view, this policy is clear to decision-makers, and we see no reason to amend the Framework, or to limit the freedom of local communities to judge how to apply national policy to the facts of particular cases.

Local Government Services

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of shared services between local authorities and other parts of the public sector; and what guidance his Department gives to local authorities to encourage them to collaborate and share services with others wherever possible.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department does not issue guidance or collect data on the number of shared services between local authorities and other parts of the public sector.However, the Local Government Association undertakes an annual survey of shared services in local government. It estimates that at least 96 per cent of councils across the country currently share services. Since 2012, sharing arrangements such as these have delivered over half a billion pounds of savings across local government.

Parking: Private Sector

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will discuss with the Department of Transport, the DVLA and the trades associations for private car parking companies reviewing the regulations for the passing of information gained from the DVLA Vehicle Keeper Database by private car parking companies to third parties as part of his Department's consideration of its approach to future Government intervention in the area of private car parking companies.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 20 April 2017



Private parking companies receive DVLA data on the condition that it will only be used to help follow up alleged parking contraventions. It cannot be further processed for any other purpose. The audit by the Information Commissioner’s Office in March 2016, judged the DVLA’s procedures to offer high assurance that processes to mitigate the risks of non-compliance with the Data Protection Act are in place. My Department has no plans to carry out a review.

Homes and Communities Agency: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many applications the board of the Home and Communities Agency received during its last intake.

Gavin Barwell: The campaign for the last Homes and Communities Agency Board member recruitment, in August 2016, received seventy three applications.

Right to Buy Scheme: Affordable Housing

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 78 of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, entitled UK Poverty: Causes and Solutions, if he will make it his policy to replace all homes sold under right to buy with low cost rented properties ensuring that there is a local discretion over size of discount and eligibility for all types of right to buy.

Gavin Barwell: The 2012 reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme increased maximum discounts to realistic levels and, for the first time ever, introduced a requirement that for every additional sale, a new affordable home would be provided. There is a rolling 3 year deadline for local authorities to deliver additional affordable homes under the reinvigorated Right to Buy, and so far they have delivered within profile.Under the terms of the voluntary Right to Buy agreement, housing associations have also committed to provide an additional home for each property sold on a one-for-one basis – increasing overall housing supply. Housing associations know their customers’ needs best and we envisage that new build would reflect the local market conditions.Right to Buy discounts are set nationally, which provides an equal, easy to understand offer to tenants. The maximum discounts are higher in London as London is a unique market, where property prices are generally significantly above those in other areas, which makes it more difficult for tenants to take up their Right to Buy.

Affordable Housing

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Community Housing Fund will continue to be distributed through local authorities from 2017-18.

Gavin Barwell: The first year of the Community Housing Fund was distributed through local authorities and used to build capacity within local groups. Funding for 2017/18 will be used to deliver housing on the ground for local people.

Hate Crime

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much government funding has been provided to the hate crime programme in each year from 2014 to 2017.

Mr Marcus Jones: In 2012 we published ‘Challenge It, Report It Stop It’ which covered the period 2012-2014. This plan delivered real improvements in the way in which hate crime was reported. This was followed by the publication in July 2016 of ‘Action Against Hate’, the UK Government’s plan for tackling hate crime. In support of both action plans, the Department for Communities and Local Government has provided over £2.5 million to organisations during the period 2014-2017 to tackle hate crime.

True Vision Programme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been provided to the True Vision programme in each year from 2014 to 2017.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department of Communities and Local Government has contributed £90,000 towards the True Vision Programme during the period 2014 to 2017.

True Vision Programme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reason responsibility for the True Vision programme was moved from the Ministry of Justice to his Department.

Mr Marcus Jones: True Vision is a facility owned by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) (and formerly by the Association of Chief Police Officers). Oversight of the scheme has been undertaken by the National Policing Lead, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton on behalf of National Police Chief’s Council. The manager of the scheme was temporarily accommodated by the Department for Communities and Local Government during an administrative transition from the Ministry of Justice to the Greater Manchester Police (on behalf of the National Police Chief's Council).

Communities and Local Government: Management Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2017 to Question 65679, on procurement, how much of the procurement spending in each of those years related to the services of management consultants.

Mr Marcus Jones: Procurement spending on external consultants, including management consultants, for the period requested are published in the Department's annual report and accounts 2012 -13 to 2015-16. These can be found under the section “Expenditure on Consultancy and Temporary Staff” at the weblink below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-annual-reports-and-accounts

Veterans: Homelessness

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate how many former service men and women were homeless in each of the last five years.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government has committed to preventing and reducing homelessness for everyone, including armed forces veterans. That is why we have supported the Homelessness Reduction Bill, which will reform England’s homelessness legislation and ensure that more people get the help they need to prevent a homelessness crisis in the first place.In addition, our £50 million Homelessness Prevention Programme has supported 84 projects across 205 district and unitary local authorities to deliver an end-to-end approach to prevention and rough sleeping.

Domestic Abuse: Refuges

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the cost of providing refuges to adequately meet the needs of domestic and sexual violence survivors.

Mr Marcus Jones: Domestic and sexual violence are devastating crimes and we are determined to ensure that victims, regardless of their circumstances, should receive the support they need when they need it.Local areas are best placed to understand local needs and the Government has devolved power and responsibility for meeting those needs accordingly. We have set out a clear blueprint for locally driven action through our new National Statement of Expectations. This was developed with voluntary, community sector and statutory stakeholders, and sets out for the first time what local areas need to do to ensure an effective response to meeting the needs of all victims of violence against women and girls. We expect local areas to do the right thing and provide services that are responsive to the needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence. Local areas should assess their need for these services and make decisions on the provision of refuges and support to fit the identified needs, both for people from within and outside their local area.The Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published on 8 March 2016, commited us to providing funding of £80 million to support victims of violence against women and girls. From this:We are supporting local delivery through our £20 million fund for specialist accommodation based support, funding 76 projects across the country to support victims of domestic abuse, creating more than 2,200 bed spaces and giving support to over 19,000 victims; andOur £15 million Violence Against Women and Girls Service Transformation Fund will encourage better collaboration between local commissioners, and with specialist violence against women and girls service providers.The Prime Minister announced a new programme of work to transform the way we think about and tackle domestic abuse and to support this programme further funding of £20 million was announced in the Budget, bringing our total support provided to victims of violence against women and girls to £100 million.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the contribution of London's zero carbon standards for all new homes to the UK's commitment to reduce carbon emissions from buildings by 22 per cent by 2030; and if he will give other city regions and local authorities the power to introduce such zero carbon standards.

Gavin Barwell: We have not made an assessment of the contribution of London’s zero carbon standards to the carbon reduction commitments. Local authorities can already bring forward in their local plans policies to promote low carbon development. Such policies need to have regard to national policy set out in the National Planning Policy Framework and other relevant statements of government policy.

Non-domestic Rates: North East

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 3.16 of the Spring Budget 2017, how much of the £300 million discretionary relief fund to provide support for businesses facing significant increases in bills from the English business rates system will be allocated to businesses in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside and (c) the North East.

Mr Marcus Jones: Each council’s proposed allocation of the £300 million discretionary relief fund is published here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/discretionary-business-rates-relief-schemeCouncils will determine how this funding is allocated across businesses in their area.Jarrow constituency falls within South Tyneside council. South Tyneside council will receive an allocation of £374,650 over the period 2017-18 to 2020-21. Councils in the North East will receive a total allocation of £7,901,668.

Letting Agents: Fees and Charges

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that banning upfront fees will not change private sector rent levels.

Gavin Barwell: The Government is keen to see all tenants receiving a good service from their landlord and letting agent and the ban on letting fees paid by tenants will give renters greater clarity and control over what they will pay. The consultation on how best to implement the ban has been launched and will be open until 2 June 2017 and includes a question on the potential impacts of the ban.

Letting Agents: Regulation

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to introduce a requirement for all letting agents to register with a regulatory body.

Gavin Barwell: The consultation on how best to implement the ban on letting fees paid by tenants has been launched and will be open until 2 June 2017. The consultation includes a question around whether any further action is needed to regulate the letting sector in addition to the ban.

Revenue Support Grant: Calderdale

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much central government funding from the revenue support grant Calderdale Council has received in each of the last seven years.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Landlords: Licensing

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Landlord Licensing Scheme introduced by the London Borough of Newham on regulation of rogue landlords.

Gavin Barwell: The effectiveness of the current Scheme in delivering its objectives will be assessed under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004, if and when an application is made for any further selective licensing scheme designation under the provisions of the Act.

Forests: Conservation

Mims Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to further strengthen protection for ancient woodland; and if he will make a statement.

Gavin Barwell: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.The Housing White Paper, Fixing our broken housing market, contains proposals to clarify the protection of ancient woodland, and to place these habitats alongside other national policies which indicate development should be restricted when preparing plans or deciding planning applications. Consultation on the White Paper is open for comment until 2 May.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Research: West Yorkshire

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support investment in science research at universities within West Yorkshire.

Joseph Johnson: The Government is fully committed to maintaining the UK’s world-leading science, research and higher education base.As of October 2016, there were a total of 443 active Research Council grants awarded to universities in the West Yorkshire area – as defined by the Leeds City Region LEP. The total value of the grants comes to £279 million split over four organisations: Leeds Metropolitan University; University of Bradford; University of Huddersfield and University of Leeds.The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provided £55.5 million in 2016/17 to five universities in West Yorkshire: University of Leeds; University of Huddersfield; University of Bradford; Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Trinity University. This funding was allocated on the basis of the research quality, and the business and charity income of these universities. HEFCE provided a further £6.3 million to these universities in that year to support knowledge exchange activities.

Business: Procurement

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to encourage companies to purchase from UK companies which have developed products through programmes funded from the public purse.

Mr Nick Hurd: The objective of Government support for business is to put the United Kingdom in a strong position for the future, promoting a diversity of businesses and industrial sectors, as well as ensuring the benefits of growth are shared across cities and regions up and down the country.The Government regularly showcases the best that British business has to offer, for example through its GREAT Britain campaign, which aims to inspire the world and encourage people to do business with manufacturers in the UK. On 21 April we announced the winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise; 176 businesses from across the UK have been recognised for their contribution to international trade, innovation, sustainable development and this year’s new award, promoting opportunity. Some of these companies have previously benefitted from public funding, thus demonstrating the real benefits to businesses and society that can be derived from properly-targeted Government support.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Contracts

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of 27 March 2017, Official Report, column 25, on Magnex: early contract terminations, for what reasons the mismatch referred to was not foreseen by the Nuclear Decommissioning Board when drafting the contract as tendered in 2012.

Jesse Norman: This is a matter for the Inquiry led by Steve Holliday that I announced on 27 March 2017.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Contracts

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of 27 March 2017, Official Report, columns 25 to 27, on Magnex: early contract terminations, whether the investigation will include an investigation into the conduct of people involved in the procurement process referred to in Energysolutions EU Ltd v Nuclear Decommissioning Authority [2016] EWHC 1988 (TCC) and in the period following that process.

Jesse Norman: This is a matter for the Inquiry led by Steve Holliday that I announced on 27 March 2017.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Contracts

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the reason was for the time taken to make the decision to withdraw the appeal of Energysolutions EU Ltd v Nuclear Decommissioning Authority [2016] EWHC 1988 (TCC).

Jesse Norman: This decision was made by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and was a consequence of settling the EnergySolutions case.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Termination of Employment

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons the employment contract of the previous Chair and Chief Executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority was terminated; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The former Chairman of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Stephen Henwood, stepped down as planned on 28 February 2017 after having served nine years in the role. John Clarke, former Chief Executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, announced his retirement on 5 August 2016 and remained in post subsequently to help manage the transition to his successor, who was appointed on 1 March 2017.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Contracts

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what grounds the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority decided to appeal the decision Energysolutions EU Ltd v Nuclear Decommissioning Authority [2016] EWHC 1988 (TCC); and whether that decision was formally directed or sanctioned by the Government.

Jesse Norman: The decision to appeal was made by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) after careful consideration of the adverse High Court judgment of 29 July. The NDA kept the Government informed about the ongoing litigation in the usual way, in line with its Framework Document.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Contracts

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what grounds the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority decided to withdraw its appeal of Energysolutions EU Ltd v Nuclear Decommissioning Authority [2016] EWHC 1988 (TCC); and whether that decision was formally directed or sanctioned by the Government.

Jesse Norman: This decision was made by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and was a consequence of settling the EnergySolutions case. The NDA decided to settle as the costs – ultimately borne by the taxpayer – had the potential to rise much further had the case gone to trial. This decision was made with my consent as well as that of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the BEIS Accounting Officer.

Horizon 2020

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has made to his EU counterparts on the UK continuing to participate in the Horizon research network after the UK leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson: This Government wants the UK to be the go-to place for innovators and investors across the world, and we intend to secure the best possible outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union.The United Kingdom’s exit from and new partnership with the European Union’ White Paper set out that the UK Government would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives and we will approach the upcoming negotiations on this basis. The Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in international research and innovation.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress his Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

Margot James: I refer my hon. Friend to the Public Land for Housing Programme Annual Report published in February 2017.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/592919/170124_PSL_Annual_Report

Directors: Ethnic Groups

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the recommendations of the Parker Review on increasing the ethnic diversity of UK boards are implemented.

Margot James: The Government wants to see greater diversity on the boards of the FTSE’s largest companies, and wants to see that delivered through a business-led approach. That approach has seen the proportion of women on FTSE100 boards increase from 12.5% in 2010 to nearly 27% as at April 2017. We now want to extend that progress to ethnic, as well as gender, diversity.Sir John Parker’s Review is an industry-led review, and its recommendations will be for the private sector to consider. However, the Government will keep a close eye on how things develop, and consider whether it needs to take action once Sir John finalises his recommendations before the end of this year.The boardroom must reflect modern Britain. Companies will do better if they make better use of the talent available and ensure their boardrooms reflect their workforces and wider society. Sir John’s Review is an important, industry-led contribution to this debate.

Nuclear Power: Skilled Workers

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps are being taken to build expertise in engineering and scientific capabilities for the nuclear industry.

Jesse Norman: The Government is working collaboratively with industry and skills bodies, including through the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG), to ensure the nuclear industry has access to the required engineering and science capabilities. The NSSG reports up to the Nuclear Industry Council which I co-chair, and Nuclear Industry Association Chair, John Hutton, which will be considering skills initiatives as a key pillar of the developing Industrial Strategy. The pipeline of future scientists and engineers needed for the sector is being strengthened through national Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education as well as Government-backed skills initiatives such as the Apprenticeship Levy and the National College for Nuclear. The National College for Nuclear aims to train 7,000 people by 2020, with the first intake of students to begin in Autumn.

Energy: Prices

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with energy providers and companies on steps to control increases in the price of household energy.

Margot James: Ministers and officials in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy meet energy providers and companies to discuss a wide range of issues.We are disappointed by the announcements of some companies of price rises when customers on standard variable tariffs are already paying more than they need to.We expect energy supply companies to treat all their customers fairly and have made it clear that the energy market should work in the best interests of households and businesses across the country.

Industry

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what account he has made of the potential merits of including sustainability as one of the pillars of his industrial strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: The objective of our Industrial Strategy is to improve living standards and economic growth across the whole country. Unquestionably, we want this growth to be sustainable. As we made clear in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, increasing the sustainability of our economy is not just a necessity, but an opportunity. Britain is well-placed to benefit from the transition to a low-carbon economy, and the Government is committed to working with businesses to make the most of that opportunity.

Carbon Emissions

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policy of meeting the Fifth Carbon Budget of the findings of the 2016 Committee on Climate Change Progress Report.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Committee on Climate Change (CCC), through their annual Progress Reports, provide independent advice on meeting the UK’s carbon budgets. The Government replied to the CCC’s 2016 Progress Report on 13th October 2016, and the response can be found at the following address:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/committee-on-climate-changes-2016-progress-report-government-response.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the conclusions of the 2050 Pathways work; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government is committed to achieving the UK’s legally binding target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. When we develop policies and proposals to meet carbon budgets we do so with a view to meeting our 2050 target. We have already made great progress towards our goal, as provisional statistics indicate that UK emissions in 2016 were 42% lower than 1990 and 6% below those in 2015.

Energy: Morecambe and Lunesdale

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many jobs there are in the energy sector in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency.

Mr Nick Hurd: In 2015 there were 1250 employee jobs in the energy sector in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency.[1] [1] Nomis – ONS Business Register and Employment Survey – using category D

Director of Labour Market Enforcement

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2017 to Question 69883, what operating budget has been set for the Office of the Director of Labour Market Enforcement in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19 and (c) 2019-20.

Margot James: The Office of the Director of Labour Market Enforcement is jointly funded by the Home Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The scope of the Director’s work may vary over time. We have agreed an annual approach to budget setting in line with a forecast submitted by the Director’s Office. The Director is in the process of finalising his forecast for 2017/18. Funding for his office will be maintained in the meantime.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sayed Alwadaei

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Bahraini counterpart on the harassment of family members of Sayed Al Wadaei.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK monitors events in Bahrain closely. We continue to raise concerns about human rights with the Bahraini authorities, both in private and in public. We encourage anyone with concerns about their treatment in detention to report these directly to the Ombudsman.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Management Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2017 to Question 65685, how much of the procurement spending was for the services of management consultants in each of those years.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Department's expenditure on all types of consultancy from financial year 2013/14 isFinancial YearExpenditure on consultancy2013/14£1.5m2014/15£1.6m2015/16£1.1m

Abduljalil Abdulla al-Singace

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has (a) made and (b) received on the medical treatment available to the Bahraini prisoner, Abduljalil al-Singace.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK monitors events in Bahrain closely. We continue to raise concerns about human rights with the Bahraini authorities, both in private and in public. We encourage anyone with concerns about their treatment in detention to report these directly to the Ombudsman.

Bahrain: Political Parties

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has made representations to the Government of Bahrain on the alleged dissolution of the secular opposition party Wa'ad National Democratic Action Society by that Government.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are following closely the legal action brought against Wa'ad. We work closely with the Government of Bahrain to encourage progress on human rights and, where we have concerns, we will continue to raise them in public and in private.

Bahrain: National Security

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has provided any training or guidance to the National Security Agency in Bahrain since 2010.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is a long standing policy of successive British Governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

China: British Nationals Abroad

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals are held in detention in China; and if he will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: We are aware of 11 British nationals being held in detention in China. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its global network seeks to offer consular assistance to all British nationals in detention overseas.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Conditions of Employment

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and what proportion of staff employed by his Department are employed on a contract which is (a) full-time permanent, (b) part-time permanent, (c) for less than two years' duration, (d) on an agency basis and (e) zero-hours.

Sir Alan Duncan: As of the 31st March 2017, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs 4499 UK-based staff of whom 4278 work full-time and 221 work part-time. There are 47 fee-paid staff on zero hours contracts. The FCO uses zero hours contracts to carry out functions that require specialist expertise but have a fluctuating workload. We only use them for exceptional roles where they represent the best value for the taxpayer and where terms are mutually agreed with the employee. This type of contract does not preclude employees from taking secondary employment.As of the 13thApril 2017, there were 65 temporary agency workers assigned to the FCO in the UK. Of the 65 workers, 45 have been in their assignment for less than 2 years.The proportion of staff employed is detailed below:Type of contractPercentage of staffFull-time (UK based)94%Part-time (UK based)5%Temporary agency workers (UK only)1%

Syria: Chemical Weapons

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies on the level of international sanctions imposed on the Assad regime of the recent chemical weapon attack on civilians in Idlib province, Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British Government has made clear that it condemns the use of chemical weapons by anyone anywhere and that those who use chemical weapons should be held to account. A firm international response to the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons is essential. Sanctions aim to restrict the Syrian regime's willingness and ability to use such a repellent form of warfare. EU sanctions are already in place. On 20 March, additional sanctions were imposed by the EU on four high-ranking Syrian military officials for their role in the use of chemical weapons. The EU continually examines the range and scope of sanctions against Syria.

Syria: Chemical Weapons

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US and European counterparts on policy options in response to the chemical weapon attack in Idlib province, Syria and other alleged war crimes by the Assad regime in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In the aftermath of the chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun on 4 April, the Foreign Secretary led efforts to increase international support for a revived UN-led political process. He called on Russia to do everything possible to bring about a political settlement in Syria and work with the rest of the international community to ensure that the shocking events of the last week are never repeated. The Foreign Secretary discusses on a regular basis the international community's response to the situation in Syria with his international counterparts, including foreign ministers from the US and the EU. On 12 April, the UK co-sponsored a United Nations Security Council resolution to condemn the use of chemical weapons and give full support to the international investigation of the Khan Sheikhoun incident. The UK continues to work closely with international partners to bring those in Syria responsible for the most atrocious crimes to account.

Syria: Chemical Weapons

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government plans to take to support the prevention of future chemical weapon attacks by the Assad regime in Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Holding to account those responsible for chemical weapons attacks is essential to deter and prevent further use. We support the expert Fact Finding Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) which is investigating the attack on Khan Sheikhoun on 4 April, and which will draw on a variety of sources, including samples, video footage and interviews to determine what happened. Following any findings of the Fact Finding Mission, it will then be for the UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) to identify 'to the greatest extent feasible' those responsible.We believe that the US action on 7 April was a necessary, appropriate and justified response to an awful crime. It sent a message that the era during which Assad's barbarism met with passivity and inaction has come to an end.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: International Cooperation

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2017 to Question 58534 and the Answer of 27 February 2017 to Question 64186, on unmanned air vehicles, if the Government will make it its policy to report to the House any proposals it plans to put forward prior to any multilateral discussions with other signatories of the Joint Declaration for the Export and Subsequent Use of Armed or Strike-Enabled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​No date has been set for formal multilateral discussions with other signatories of the Joint Declaration for the Export and Subsequent Use of Armed or Strike-Enabled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The topic of strike-enabled UAVs comes up in informal contact with like-minded countries, but we do not yet have UK proposals to offer.

Antisemitism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times he has discussed anti-Semitism with his international counterparts in the last calendar year.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations on antisemitism to his (a) Russian, (b) Polish, (c) Latvian, (d) Lithuanian, (e) Saudi Arabian and (f) Malaysian counterparts since he took office.

Alok Sharma: ​Combating all forms of discrimination, including anti-semitism, remains an important part of the Government's human rights work internationally. Through our membership of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), we actively supported the adoption of a Working Definition of Antisemitism in 2016. The UK is now encouraging individual states to adopt the definition domestically. Since 2010, the UK's Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues has played an important role in driving a more coherent and strategic approach to our work in this area, including on anti-semitism. The current Special Envoy Sir Eric Pickles raised antisemitism during his recent visits to Poland in October 2016 and March 2017.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on whether Saif Gaddafi remains in custody in Libya; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We understand that Saif al-Islam Qadhafi, Colonel Qadhafi's son, remains detained in Zintan, outside of the control of the Libyan government authorities. The UK supports the call from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the Libyan authorities to do everything possible to ensure transfer to the ICC of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, and to consult with the Court to address any problems that might impede his transfer to The Hague.

Hungary: Qualifications

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Hungary on rules in that country banning institutions outside the EU from awarding Hungarian diplomas without an agreement between national governments.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​I have not spoken to my counterparts in Hungary on this particular issue though we continue to monitor the situation closely. The British Embassy in Budapest is engaging with the Hungarian government as part of our regular discussions.

Sri Lanka: Human Rights

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka; and what progress the Sri Lankan Government has made in improving human rights in that country.

Alok Sharma: Since the election of President Sirisena in January 2015, the Sri Lankan government has made progress in addressing the legacy of its civil war, including the restoration of important democratic checks and balances, improvements in respect for freedoms of expression and movement, the return of some military-held land to civilians, passing of legislation to establish an Office for Missing Persons (OMP) and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances. The Sri Lankan government has also co-sponsored two UN Human Rights Council resolutions on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, in October 2015 and March 2017.However, much remains to be done and the UK encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to now take the steps necessary to deliver in full the commitments it has made to its people and to the international community.

Palestinians: Terrorism

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Palestinian Authority on its decision to increase payments to those convicted of terrorist offences and to the families of those who have died carrying out terrorist attacks against Israel.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are not currently aware of any recent decision to increase these payments. We regularly raise the issue of payments to prisoners and their families with senior Palestinian officials. We push them to ensure that such payments are transparent and needs-based.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2017 to Question 67949, on procurement, what estimate he has made of the total budget for managing procurement in each year since 2010.

Sir Alan Duncan: The amount spent on payroll and general admin for the FCO's Commercial Procurement Department alone is approx £3m a year.

British Council: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications the board of the British Council received during its last intake.

Alok Sharma: The British Council has advised that it received 240 applications in response to the most recent trustee advertisement.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether international arrest warrants exist for Saif Gaddafi for (a) war crimes, (b) crimes against humanity, (c) money laundering and (d) other related offences.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: ​The warrant for the arrest of Saif al-Islam Qadhafi, Colonel Qadhafi's son, was issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 27 June 2011 on two counts of crimes against humanity: murder and persecution, allegedly committed in 2011 in Libya. On 10 December 2014 the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court confirmed that the case of Saif al-Islam Qadhafi was still admissible before the ICC, despite his detention in Zintan. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) requires Libya to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court and to provide any necessary assistance to the ICC and the ICC Prosecutor.

Syria: Reconstruction

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on whether conditions should be attached to any future EU agreement to financially support the reconstruction of Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK and EU have made clear that they will only commit funding to a reconstruction process in Syria once a credible political transition is firmly under way.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress his Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

Alok Sharma: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not disposed of any land in the UK since March 2016. The FCO sales in the Spending Review period are forecasts of potential overseas sales.

Cameroon: Internet

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on the Government of Cameroon allegedly blocking access to the internet in the south of that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British High Commission Yaoundé is closely following the situation in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon following on from the demonstrations and strikes by lawyers and teachers. We are engaged with the Government of Cameroon and will continue to raise issues such as the internet blackout with them.

Cameroon: Human Rights

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Government of (a) Cameroon and (b) France on alleged human rights abuses in southern Cameroon.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: ​I can assure you that the Government, via our High Commission in Yaoundé, is closely following the situation in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. We are engaged with the Government of Cameroon and will continue to raise concerns with them. Our High Commissioner has spoken to President Biya urging him to find a resolution to these issues in order to return to normality as soon as possible. We are also engaged with a number of international partners who share our aim of seeing a peaceful resolution to this situation as soon as possible.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Rendition

Mr Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has assessed the content of Diego Garcia flight records that were granted by EuroControl in June 2014 to determine whether they contain information relating to extraordinary rendition.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​Certain flight plan information relating to the operation of aircraft into Diego Garcia between 1 September 2001 and 31 December 2008 was sent to the Department for Transport by Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, in June 2014.The information provided was limited to the call sign, registration and type of aircraft involved, the airport (including time and date) of departure, time and date of arrival in Diego Garcia, aircraft operator, operator code and entry time into Eurocontrol's route charges system. All of the data provided related to flights inbound to Diego Garcia. No information was given concerning passengers carried, if any. The vast majority of the entries related to military type aircraft.

Cameroon: Human Rights

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Government of Cameroon on reports of human rights abuses in the southern part of that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: ​We have called for restraint by all involved, including in the use of force. We have reiterated the obligation to uphold human rights standards and encouraged the use of transparent legal means to address concerns. We have regularly called for issues to be resolved through broad-based dialogue, with a range of interlocutors, and a return to normality in the two regions.

British Council: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of the British Council board are (a) women, (b) from black or minority ethnic backgrounds, (c) disabled or (d) from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Alok Sharma: The British Council has advised that it carries out equality monitoring of its Board of Trustees. As of 31 March 2017, the proportion of the British Council Board of Trustees that identified as women was 31%; the proportion from minority ethnic backgrounds was 23%. No board members stated they were disabled. The British Council do not currently collect data on board members' socio-economic backgrounds.

British Council: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who makes appointments to the Board of the British Council; which other organisations or individuals provide advice on those appointments; and at what stage of the process such advice is provided.

Alok Sharma: The British Council have advised that trustees are appointed in three ways. One Trustee post is filled by the Chair of the British Council's country committees for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, co-opted on a rotating basis for a two-year period. Under the terms of the British Council's Royal Charter, the Foreign Secretary may nominate one person to be a Trustee. All other Trustees, including the Chair and Deputy Chair, are elected by the Board following an open recruitment process. The Nominations Committee reviews the composition of the Board, including its expertise and diversity, and proposes trustees for appointment by the Board after running a full recruitment process. The appointment of the Chair and Deputy Chair of the British Council are subject to prior approval by the Foreign Secretary.

Raif Badawi

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Saudi Arabian Government on the case of Raif Badawi; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK remains concerned about the case of Raif Badawi and we continue to raise his case at all levels in the Saudi Arabian government. Our expectation remains that he will not receive any further lashes.Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country because of the use of the death penalty, women's issues and restrictions on other freedoms.

Cameroon: Politics and Government

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to encourage the Government of Cameroon to restore peace and democracy to the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British High Commission Yaoundé is closely following the situation in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon following the demonstrations and strikes by lawyers and teachers. We are engaged with the Government of Cameroon and will continue to raise our concerns with them.We have called for restraint by all involved, including in the use of force. We have reiterated the obligation to uphold human rights standards and encouraged the use of transparent legal means to address concerns. We have regularly called for issues to be resolved through broad-based dialogue, with a range of interlocutors, and a return to normality in the two regions.

Israel: Deportation

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the deportation of human rights activists from Israel.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our Deputy Ambassador to Tel Aviv met with Israel’s Europe Director on 13 March to discuss the new immigration law, and we continue to push for clarification from Israel on the impact on British nationals. We have also updated our travel advice for Israel, recommending that concerned UK nationals contact the Israeli Embassy for further information.The British Government has been consistent in our opposition to the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, but we believe the best way to combat this movement is through discussion rather than legislation.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff are seconded to his Department; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 March 2017 to written question 67312.

Palestinians: Homicide

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Palestinian Authority on Article 99 of Penal Law No.16 of 1960.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: While we have not had any discussions with the Palestinian Authority on this specific issue the Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with other government departments, including the Department for International Development (DFID), and with the Palestinian Authority to enhance gender equality in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. DFID has supported interventions to tackle violence against women and girls by working with the Palestinian security and justice sectors. This has included the development of Police Family Protection and Juvenile Units, the specialization of public prosecutors to work on cases of violence against women and the development of a gender strategy for the Palestinian Civil Police.

Aviation: Diego Garcia

Mr Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the reasons were for his Department's decision to withhold Diego Garcia flight records that were granted by EuroControl in June 2014.

Sir Alan Duncan: A request for disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was declined by the Department for Transport on the grounds that disclosure would be likely to prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and another State under section 27(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Aviation: Diego Garcia

Mr Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Diego Garcia flight records that were granted by EuroControl in June 2014, and withheld by his Department, have been shared with any other Government Departments or with any parliamentary committees.

Sir Alan Duncan: EuroControl, the European organisation for the safety of Air Navigation, sent flight plan information to the Department for Transport in June 2014. This was subsequently shared with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Chechnya: LGBT People

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he is making to the Government of Chechnya on the treatment of LGBT people in that region.

Sir Alan Duncan: I refer the Hon. Member to my response to written question 70842.

Chechnya: Homosexuality

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Chechen authorities and the Russian Government on the arrest, imprisonment and abuse of homosexual men in Chechnya; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​I refer the Hon. Member to my response to written question 70842.

Nigeria: Human Rights

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on alleged human rights abuses committed against supporters of Biafran independence in Nigeria; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK position on human rights is firm: they are universal and must apply equally to all people. This includes the right to protest within the rule of law. The UK notes reports of alleged human rights abuses committed against supporters of Biafran independence and the report by Amnesty International into the fatalities suffered by pro-Biafra protestors.The report has a number of recommendations to the Nigerian Security Forces, including on addressing human rights violations and ensuring due process for detainees. The UK looks forward to seeing how the Nigerian Federal Government responds to these recommendations in order to ensure that any future actions taken by the Nigerian Security Forces are in accordance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law.We will continue to monitor developments closely.

Issa Amro and Omar Barghouti

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made representations to the Israeli Government on the (a) charges brought against Issa Amro by the Israeli military court and (b) arrest of Omar Barghouti in March 2017.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have not raised the particular cases of Mr Amro or Mr Barghouti with the Israeli authorities but we are following their cases closely. Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem attended Mr Amro’s court hearing on 26 March, visited him at Youth Against Settlements in Hebron on 6 January and met his lawyer on 17 January.

China: Capital Punishment

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on China's (a) use of the death penalty and (b) refusal to publish its execution figures.

Alok Sharma: ​The British Government does not make estimates of the number of executions in China. However an Amnesty International report published on 11 April estimated that the number of executions carried out in China each year numbers in the "thousands", and is more than the rest of the world combined.The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and we continue to urge the Chinese authorities to reduce their use of the death penalty and provide details of the numbers of executions in China. We last raised these concerns at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in October 2016, which I attended.Through our network of diplomatic posts, the UK is working with Chinese legal experts and the Chinese judiciary to support legislative and judicial reforms to limit the use of the death penalty. We have welcomed reductions in the number of crimes that attract the death penalty and the Supreme People's Court mandatory review of all death sentences.

China: Capital Punishment

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of executions in China in 2016.

Alok Sharma: ​The British Government does not make estimates of the number of executions in China. However an Amnesty International report published on 11 April estimated that the number of executions carried out in China each year numbers in the "thousands", and is more than the rest of the world combined.The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and we continue to urge the Chinese authorities to reduce their use of the death penalty and provide details of the numbers of executions in China. We last raised these concerns at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in October 2016, which I attended.Through our network of diplomatic posts, the UK is working with Chinese legal experts and the Chinese judiciary to support legislative and judicial reforms to limit the use of the death penalty. We have welcomed reductions in the number of crimes that attract the death penalty and the Supreme People's Court mandatory review of all death sentences.

Kashmir: Death

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the recent killings by Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir; and what representations Ministers of his Department have made to the Indian Government on that matter.

Alok Sharma: I remain concerned about reports of unrest in Indian-administered Kashmir. Any allegations of human rights abuses should be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. We have previously raised concerns, most recently when I met Foreign Minister Akbar on 16 March this year.

South Korea: Security

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Government of South Korea on the external security of that country.

Alok Sharma: The Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Theresa May) spoke to Acting President Hwang Kyo-Ahn on 24 March and the Foreign Secretary, my Rt. Hon Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) spoke to Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se on 30 March, as well as hosting him for annual strategic level dialogue on 22 February. The British Ambassador in Seoul is also in frequent contact with the South Korean authorities. In these and other conversations we have made clear that the UK continues to support a robust response to North Korean provocations and United Nations Security Council Resolution violations and that we will continue to work with our international partners, including South Korea and China, to maintain pressure on North Korea.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Department for Exiting the European Union: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff are seconded to his Department; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.

Mr Robin Walker: The department has sourced a large proportion of experienced staff from across Whitehall and a number of secondees from the private sector and the wider public sector. We are not in a position to give a final total for particular groups of staff as recruitment is ongoing and numbers are regularly changing.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress his Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union does not own any land and has not sold any land since March 2016.

Business: Bristol

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with businesses in Bristol on (a) ending freedom of movement, (b) withdrawing from the EU single market and (c) their priorities for the Government's negotiations of the UK leaving the EU; and what research he has commissioned into the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the UK's core cities.

Mr Robin Walker: Since the EU referendum, Ministers from across Government have met civil society organisations and businesses from every sector. Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union have played an active part in this effort, engaging with businesses in every sector cluster and visiting every region of the UK, including Bristol, to hear and understand their priorities for our exit negotiations. This is part of our commitment to build a national consensus on our negotiating position. Government has regular engagement with the core cities as part of its wider work with local communities and organisations.Details of Ministerial meetings are published in the Department for Exiting the European Union’s quarterly Transparency Returns, which are made publicly available on Gov.uk.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Conditions of Employment

Rob Marris: To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of staff employed by the Law Officers' Departments are employed on a contract which is (a) full-time permanent, (b) part-time permanent, (c) for less than two years' duration, (d) on an agency basis and (e) zero-hours.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of staff employed by the Law Officers’ Departments full-time and part-time is available at: www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetableThe details for parts (c), (d) and (e) of the question are as follows, as at 31 March 2017: (c) less than two years' duration(d) on an agency basis(e) zero-hoursCPS185 (3%)14 (0.2%)0AGO000GLD10 (0.5%)233 (12.8%)0SFO29 (5.5%)116 (22.2%)0HMCPSI000The proportions in each case are a proportion of the staff employed by that Department.

Attorney General: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2017 to Question 66990, on procurement, what estimate he has made of the amount spent on managing procurement in each year since 2010.

Jeremy Wright: The estimated spend of the Crown Prosecution Service on managing procurement for each year since 2010 is as follows:Year2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17(£000s)637531521847858894852The figures are based upon average staff costs and the costs of external procurement services. From August 2013, the figures include an element equivalent to two full time posts which is part of a shared purchasing service to the GLD, AGO and HMCPSI and described below.The spend by the Government Legal Department (GLD), Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) is as follows:Year2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17(£000s12512588144159132135As noted above, the CPS Procurement Team provides procurement support and advice under a shared service arrangement. Prior to August 2012, this function was provided by a GLD Procurement Team.Individual Serious Fraud Office (SFO) teams are responsible for the day-to-day contract management of expert services and lower value contracts that fall within their business areas. Senior members of case teams are also responsible for the management of counsel and other experts engaged on SFO cases. The SFO does not hold central records on the contract management time spent by each and every staff member involved and such information could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Attorney General: Freedom of Information

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Attorney General, how many staff in the Law Officers' Departments respond to Freedom of Information requests.

Jeremy Wright: Any member of staff in the Law Officers’ Departments might respond to Freedom of Information requests, depending upon the nature and substance of each individual request and who within the different departments is best placed to answer.

Wales Office

MOD St Athan

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what (a) discussions and (b) other communications his Department has had with (i) the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and (ii) the Welsh Assembly Government on the relocation of MOD St Athan 4 School of Technical Training in each year since 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Cairns: I have regular discussions with Ministers and Officials at the Ministry of Defence on defence matters relating to Wales, including MOD St Athan and the relocation of 4 School of Technical Training. My officials also have regular meetings and discussions with their counterparts. In addition to general discussions where the issue was raised:the previous Secretary of State for Wales and I visited 4 School of Technical Training in February 2015;the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales (Lords) wrote to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Personnel and Veterans in November 2015 about the future of the St Athan site;I met with MoD officials in November 2016 and February 2017. The Wales Office has not received any direct correspondence from the Welsh Government on this issue. Regular meetings are held between Ministry of Defence, Welsh Government and Wales Office officials regarding MoD St Athan which include discussion of 4 School of Technical Training.

MOD St Athan

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, on what dates officials or ministers from his Department (a) visited since 2015 and (b) plans to visit in 2017 the 4 School of Technical Training at MOD St Athan; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Cairns: The previous Secretary of State and I visited the 4 School of Technical Training in February 2015. I visited the MOD St Athan site earlier this month and the Wales Office is exploring the possibility of returning soon. I regularly meet with members of the Armed Forces and with the Ministry of Defence, and my Department remains in close communication with them regarding the future of the site.

Department for Education

Curriculum

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on promoting a cross-curriculum approach to teaching; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The new National Curriculum, introduced from September 2014, sets out the essential knowledge in the key subjects that must be taught to children of compulsory school age in maintained schools in England. Academies and free schools are required to teach a balanced and broadly based curriculum and can use the National Curriculum as a benchmark, as it sets out a knowledge based, ambitious, academically rigorous curriculum.The National Curriculum explicitly sets out this essential knowledge by subject rather than grouping it by broader cross-curricula topics. Securing a sound foundation of subject knowledge is essential to enabling pupils from all backgrounds to succeed in their education. Schools and teachers use their professional judgement about how this knowledge should be taught and what should be included in the wider curriculum to meet the needs of their pupils.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the average cost of educating a pupil in schools with (a) up to 100, (b) 101 to 500, (c) 501 to 1,000 and (d) more than 1,000 pupils.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed in addressing unfairness by introducing a national funding formula for schools from April 2018. In our current consultation, we have proposed that over 90% the funding available for schools should be distributed on the basis of pupil numbers and characteristics.Evidence shows that pupils with particular characteristics, such as coming from a disadvantaged background, are more likely not to reach their full potential and therefore need more support. Where a child is eligible for multiple factors, their school would attract additional funding for each. Funding received on account of these factors would not vary according to school size. The table below shows the proposed factor values for the main formula factors, before the area cost adjustment is applied: FactorPer-pupil/school funding under the proposed national funding formula.NB These exclude area cost adjustment funding.PrimarySecondaryBasic per-pupil fundingKS1£2,712KS3£3,797(£ per pupil)KS2KS4£4,312Deprivation (£ per pupil)Ever6 FSM£540£785Current FSM£980£1,225IDACI A£575£810IDACI B£420£600IDACI C£360£515IDACI D£360£515 IDACI E£240£390 IDACI F£200£290Low prior attainment (£ per pupil)£1,050£1,550English as an additional language (£ per pupil)£515£1,385Lump Sum (£ per pupil)£110,000£110,000Sparsity (£ per pupil)£0 - £25,000£0 - £65,000 In addition, we propose to include a fixed lump sum factor of £110,000, to contribute to costs that do not vary with pupil numbers. Under our proposals, schools of up to 100 pupils would receive at least an additional £1100 per pupil through the lump sum factor, on top of funding based on pupil numbers and characteristics; schools of 101-500 pupils a further £220-£1100 per pupil; schools of 501-1000 pupils a further £110-£220 per pupil and schools of 1001 or more pupils up to £110 per pupil.

Department for Education: Management Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of her Department's spending on procurement management in each year since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage: For each financial year, the Department for Education publishes full audited accounts. These reports can be found at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfe-annual-reports

Department for Education: Conditions of Employment

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of staff employed by her Department are employed on a contract which is (a) full-time permanent, (b) part-time permanent, (c) for less than two years' duration, (d) on an agency basis and (e) zero-hours.

Caroline Dinenage: The table below shows data on how many and what proportion of staff are employed by the Department for Education (DfE), on a contract which is full-time permanent and part-time permanent. The permanent headcount figures include staff who are on fixed-term contracts and have been employed for over 1 year but under 2 years. The fixed term/temporary figure shows staff on fixed-term contracts who have been employed for less than 1 year.The total figure for (c) is therefore 212. Agency workers are not employees of DfE and have therefore not been included. DfE does not employ any staff on zero hours contracts.  Mar-17DfEGEOPaid headcount469755FT Permanent (a)394144PT Permanent (b)66010Of Permanent (c)   FT contract (less than 2 years)340Other FT contract1090Fixed Term/Temporary (c)690

Department for Education: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress her Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department completed its sale of planned surplus properties in 2015-2016 and therefore there has been no sale of surplus property assets from the core departmental estate in 2016-17.The Department keeps its estate under review to ensure that it delivers value for money.

Department for Education: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff are seconded to her Department; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department has no central record of staff seconded to it from other organisations or companies. Therefore, it is not possible to verify how many or from which organisations staff may have been seconded. This is because secondments are agreed by individual managers and may not always be notified to the central Human Resources team.

Children in Care: Scotland

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Children's Commissioners for England, Wales and Scotland were consulted ahead of placing looked after children from England and Wales in secure accommodation in Scotland.

Edward Timpson: Placements in Scottish secure homes have happened commonly over time, increasing the diversity of specialist secure provision available, which in turn is in the best interests of our most vulnerable children. My department has not consulted on the amendments on placing looked after children from England and Wales in Secure accommodation in Scotland, in the Children and Social Work Bill. Whilst no child has been placed by an English or Welsh local authority in secure accommodation in Scotland without the authority of the courts in England and Wales, these amendments are necessary to fill a legislative gap relating to secure placements in Scotland by English and Welsh local authorities. While important, the amendments do not seek to change policy. They are essentially a technical fix to clarify the legal position.

Free School Meals: Halifax

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of primary school pupils are in receipt of free school meals in Halifax constituency.

Edward Timpson: Data for the number of pupils eligible for free school meals in each school in England are available in the underlying data in the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release.[1]The number and proportion of pupils, attending primary school in Halifax constituency in Calderdale local authority, who were known to be eligible for free school meals[2] in 2016 is given below.These figures do not include infant pupils who are not eligible for free school meals based on the standard criteria, but who can receive a meal under the universal infant free school meals programme.Primary school pupilsHalifax parliamentary constituencyNumber of pupils (headcount)10,391Number known to be eligible for and claiming FSM1,841Proportion known to be eligible for and claiming FSM17.7%Source: School Census, January 2016 [1] www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers - click on the relevant year and then ‘underlying data.’ The data are contained in files with ‘Schools_Pupils’ in the title.[2] Not all children assessed as eligible for free school meals will have taken a lunch on census day.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Accommodation

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what category she plans that the proposed prison in (a) Port Talbot, (b) Yorkshire, (c) Rochester and (d) Hindley will be; and if she will make a statement.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with each local authority in (a) Port Talbot, (b) Yorkshire, (c) Rochester and (d) Hindley on her proposals to build prisons in those areas.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the Prison Officers Association on her Department's proposals for building new prisons in Port Talbot, Yorkshire, Rochester and Hindley.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department has carried out a socio-economic impact assessment on its proposals for building new prisons in Port Talbot, Yorkshire, Rochester and Hindley.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The new prison developments will be purpose built to hold male prisoners at Category C, and provide facilities designed to support rehabilitation and resettlement back into the community. The Ministry of Justice has had a number of discussions with the relevant MPs and Councils in developing its plans for the new and redeveloped prison sites. The Government welcomes feedback on the development of its plans for the prison estate and is undertaking public engagement events in the locations announced on 22 March 2017. Opportunities for local residents, businesses and stakeholders to provide additional feedback are also available through the formal local planning application process. We will work with Parliamentary colleagues in the development of these plans. We will work closely with Local Authorities; NHS trusts; and police forces to ensure services such as Health, Education, Social Services and Accommodation are involved in planning for the new prisons right from the start. We have informed the Prison Officers Association of our intentions to apply for planning permission at the four locations and will continue to involve and work closely with them. As well as creating a modern estate that’s designed with the right conditions for reform, these new prisons will also act as a boost to local economies – creating thousands of jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries as well as opportunities for local businesses.

Antisemitism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many meetings she has had with which organisations to discuss issues related to anti-Semitism since 2015.

Dr Phillip Lee: The Secretary of State for Justice has not met with any organisations to discuss issues related to anti-Semitism since 2015. Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published routinely on Gov.uk and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/moj-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings.

Ministry of Justice: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress her Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

Dr Phillip Lee: The department’s progress in identifying and selling surplus land for housing is set out in the Public Land for Housing Programme Annual Report published in February 2017. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/592919/170124_PSL_Annual_Report_FINAL_for_publication.pdf

Infanticide

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many mothers charged with murder have used infanticide as a defence; and how many such mothers were successful in that defence in each year since 2000-01.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions in each year since 2000 women who might have been convicted of murder have received a verdict of infanticide under section 1(2) of the Infanticide Act 1938.

Sir Oliver Heald: The number of offenders found guilty of infanticide at all courts, in England and Wales, from 2005 to 2015 can be viewed in the annual criminal justice statistics publication linked below. The number of offenders found guilty of infanticide at all courts, in England and Wales, from 2000 to 2004, can be viewed in the table attached. (Court proceedings data for 2016 is planned for publication on 18 May 2017.) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2015 Any woman charged with the murder of her own child under 12 months of age could, in certain circumstances, be convicted of the alternative offence of infanticide and therefore it would be possible for any such defendant to make a defence that she was instead guilty of infanticide. The data on those who use infanticide as a defence is not held centrally and can only obtained at disproportionate cost.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the financial and service viability of community rehabilitation companies.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, through the Probation System Review, has been working proactively with all Community Rehabilitation Companies. The review has been looking at both the contractual arrangements and the effectiveness of service delivery.

Cars: Insurance

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many insurance companies market car insurance products in the UK; and which of those insurance companies have declared that they will hand back £40 savings specified by the Government from personal injury reforms to customers in the form of lower premiums.

Sir Oliver Heald: The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on the number of insurance companies that market car insurance products in the UK. Leading insurers have publicly committed to pass on savings from the Government’s reforms to consumers through lower premiums, with Axa, Aviva and LV= committing to passing on 100%. Motor insurance is intensely competitive and insurance companies will have little choice but to pass on the savings or risk being priced out of the market. The Government will monitor the industry’s reaction and will consider further action if required.

Pregnancy: Discrimination

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the number of maternity and pregnancy discrimination-related claims in the last five years.

Sir Oliver Heald: Information on the number of complaints of pregnancy and maternity related discrimination in the Employment Tribunals is published in the MoJ statistical bulletin, “Tribunals and gender recognition statistics quarterly”. The latest bulletin, for the quarter October to December 2016, is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2016

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Social Media

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is enrolled on any trusted flagger programmes with social media companies.

Matt Hancock: This Department is not enrolled as a Trusted Flagger with social media companies.

21st Century Fox: Sky

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect of Rupert Murdoch's bid for Sky TV on media plurality.

Matt Hancock: On 16 March 2017, the Secretary of State made a statement to Hon. Members [Official Report - Vol 623 col 556] that she had intervened in the proposed acquisition of Sky plc by 21st Century Fox Inc on media public interest grounds and had issued a European Intervention Notice (EIN). Ofcom will consider any possible effects of 21st Century Fox Inc's bid for Sky plc on media plurality in their report on the media public interests mentioned in the EIN. Ofcom will now submit their report by 20 June 2017.

Cycling: Clubs

Amanda Milling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding has been made available from the public purse to support the development of small and community BMX clubs in the UK each year since 2010.

Tracey Crouch: Since 2010 the Big Lottery Fund has invested £802,392 of National Lottery money in 22 different BMX clubs and projects across the UK. Since 2010, Sport England has invested £1,657,741 of National Lottery money in 28 different BMX clubs and projects across England. Sport Wales, Sport Scotland and Sport Northern Ireland are responsible for investing in cycling in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively. British Cycling is the National Governing Body (NGB) responsible for supporting and growing grassroots cycling in Britain. It receives public investment from Sport England, which includes funding to support the growth of BMX across Britain.

Local Press

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will establish an inquiry into the sustainability of local and regional news provision.

Matt Hancock: Local and regional news is a crucial source of information for communities and a vital part of a healthy democracy. I understand local and regional news providers are facing challenges at the moment, as they adapt to new technology and a changing media landscape. Earlier this month, we introduced a business rates relief for local newspapers in England. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-case-for-a-business-rates-relief-for-local-newspapers The BBC is also working in partnership with the local news industry to support local journalism. Following consultation with providers of local journalism across the UK, the BBC in partnership with the News Media Association, will take forward a range of measures working with local media. More information is available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2017/bbc-news-media-association-partnership As I set out at the Westminster Hall debate on local and regional news, on 30 March 2017, I do not believe a single inquiry is appropriate at this stage. The business rates relief and the BBC initiative are currently being implemented and we must see how these work in practice. However as I said during the debate, we are keeping this matter under constant review: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-03-30/debates/B069F48A-DFC6-48A8-A1BD-BA9AB827E5E9/LocalAndRegionalNews

Gambling

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the cost of problem gambling to the Government.

Tracey Crouch: In December 2016, the Institute for Public Policy Research published a report on the cost to Government associated with problem gamblers (commissioned by GambleAware). The Report can be found at: http://www.ippr.org/publications/cards-on-the-table

Gaming Machines

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of player protection measures for fixed odds betting terminals.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to announce the findings of her Department's review of stakes and prizes for gaming machines.

Tracey Crouch: A review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures was launched in October 2016, which included a look at the issue of B2 gaming machines (more commonly known as fixed odds betting terminals). Responses to the review’s call for evidence are currently being considered and a response will be published in due course.

Sports: Hearing Impairment

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much lottery funding has been allocated to the Deaflympics in each of the last three years.

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding her Department has given to UK Deaf Sport in each of the last five years.

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding her Department plans to provide for UK teams competing in the Deaflympics in the future.

Tracey Crouch: No lottery funding has been allocated to the Deaflympics in any of the last three years. However, in 2012, Sport England invested £134,620 of National Lottery funding into UK Deaf Sport (UKDS) to support the Great Britain team in attending the most recent Deaflympics at Sofia in 2013.While there are currently no plans to provide funding for UK teams competing in the Deaflympics in future, between 2014 and 2017 Sport England is investing £365,791 in UK Deaf Sport to provide disability and impairment specific expertise to create more opportunities for deaf people to play sport regularly. This was an increase of £83,817 (30%) from its 2011-2014 investment. A breakdown of funding awarded to UK Deaf Sport by Sport England in each of the last five years is detailed below: Financial YearInvestment 2012/13£93,6582013/14£91,5702014/15£120,2902015/16£121,3422016/17£124,240

Eureka! Museum for Children: Fees and Charges

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the National Children's Museum in Halifax provides free entry for the public.

Matt Hancock: Government welcomes the work of the National Children's Museum as an interactive, family-friendly attraction engaging children with science and STEM subjects. Government policy is national permentant collections should be free of charge.

Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to invite representatives of the Jain community to attend memorial events to mark Remembrance Day; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Rob Wilson: There are no plans at present to make any changes to the representative attendance at the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph service. The Ceremony is organised in such a way as to represent all those wishing to pay their respects and recognise all who fought and died for their country. The wreath laid by Her Majesty The Queen is done so on behalf of the whole nation, and is dedicated to all those who have suffered and died in war.

Department for Work and Pensions

Veterans: Jobseeker's Allowance

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former service men and women were in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance in each of the last five years.

Damian Hinds: When claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance a person is only asked about their last job if it ended in the last 6 months. The data about their last job, if they had one, is recorded but could only be provided at disproportionate cost. From April 2014 Individuals have also been asked by their Work Coach if they were formerly in HM Forces to ensure they are offered the most appropriate support. A marker recording their response is placed on their labour market account. The data available is not sufficiently robust to be published and will only provide a partial picture, as it is voluntarily provided information.

Social Security Benefits: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have received benefit sanctions on in York in each of the last five years.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many days of benefit sanctions have people in York received in each of the last five years.

Damian Hinds: The information requested on the number of days of benefit sanctions is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Information on Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance sanction decisions, by geography, is available here:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html Information on Universal Credit sanctions is not currently available. The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on benefit sanctions, including Universal Credit (UC) in April 2016. As outlined in the strategy, officials are currently developing the data for UC sanctions and will only release information once the necessary quality assurance work has taken place. These statistics will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for official statistics. Universal Credit official statistics and the Departments release strategy can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics

Universal Credit: Prisoners

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on allowing prisoners near the end of their sentence to apply for universal credit in advance of their release.

Damian Hinds: Universal Credit is primarily an online service. Due to restrictions on accessing and using computers in prisons, prison leavers cannot currently make a claim in advance of their release. Prison based Work Coaches can provide information to prison leavers on the services provided the Department for Work and Pensions, including how to make a claim and any additional support available where required. An appointment can be made for the first day of release. This additional support includes access to Universal Credit Advances of up to 50% of the household’s monthly entitlement, if the claimant needs financial support before they receive their first monthly payment. These measures should ensure that prisoners are not disadvantaged by the inability to make advance claims prior to release.

Jobcentres: Travel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the average (a) distance travelled by claimants to attend jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus appointments and (b) costs of travel incurred by claimants attending appointments at jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus centres; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department has collected data on the average (a) distance travelled by claimants to attend jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus appointments and (b) costs of travel incurred by claimants in attending appointments at jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus centres.

Damian Hinds: Whilst the Department has not estimated or collected data on the average distances and costs incurred by claimants when attending appointments at their local jobcentre it has, as part of its review of the future estate, carefully considered claimant travel. Rather than assess the average distances from customers’ homes to their current and proposed new jobcentre, we have focused instead on the distances between existing and proposed jobcentre locations to help customers better understand any differences in distance. This is to reflect the fact that people who travel to the jobcentre will use whichever type of transport suits their personal circumstances, they may not be starting their journey from their home, and not all those who use our services are claimants. The reimbursement of travel costs is available to claimants when they are required to attend the jobcentre for appointments other than mandatory fortnightly signing appointments. In addition, those claiming Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support are not required to attend their local jobcentre on a regular basis. Jobseekers who have been claiming Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than 13 weeks can also apply for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card which halves the cost of pay as you go bus fares.

Unemployed People: Mental Health

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2017 to Question 67873, on unemployed people: mental health, how many referrals jobcentres have made for customers at risk of suicide or self harm in each year since 2009-10.

Damian Hinds: We do not collate records of how many customers at risk of suicide or self harm are referred to appropriate local sources of help.

Social Security Benefits: Suicide

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2016 to Question 52840, on social security benefits: suicide, how many internal reviews his Department has carried out for cases of suicide in each year since 2009.

Damian Hinds: Records have only been held centrally since 2012. The department cannot therefore supply information for Reviews conducted prior to 2012. The following information is held for Reviews carried out in relation to cases of suicide and alleged suicide. 2012/13: 152013/14: 142014/15: 142015/16: 112016/17: 6

Department for Work and Pensions: Staff

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2016 to Question 53958, on Department for Work and Pensions: staff, when the learning product Supporting Customers with a Vulnerability, covering how to respond to individuals threatening suicide, was introduced; and what proportion of current jobcentre staff have been trained using that product.

Damian Hinds: ‘Supporting Customers with a Vulnerability’ was introduced in February 2012. It is part of a range of products that build the capability of DWP staff to support vulnerable users of the Department’s services. These products have been developed over time to reflect the Department’s longstanding commitment to this critical aspect of our work. Information on the proportion of current Jobcentre staff who have completed this particular product could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average reduction in an individual claimant's personal outgoings he expects to arise from social tariffs for which a claimant of employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group is eligible.

Penny Mordaunt: There has not been any analysis of average savings from social tariffs for claimants of employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group.

Children: Poverty

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government's policy on child poverty.

Damian Hinds: Tackling child poverty and disadvantage is a priority for this government. The best route out of poverty is through work and this government has made substantial progress: the number of children in workless households has reduced by 590,000 since 2010. New analysis carried out by my Department shows that children living in families where no one works are significantly more disadvantaged, and achieve poorer outcomes than other children including those living in lower-income working families. This is why Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families, published on 4 April, focuses on tackling the complex barriers faced by many disadvantaged families and provides a framework for a continuing focus on improving their children’s outcomes, now and in the future.

Low Pay

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve the life chances of families in low-paid work.

Damian Hinds: The best route out of poverty is through work and this government has made substantial progress: both the employment rate at 74.6% and the percentage of children living in working households at 58.3% are at a record high. The Prime Minister has been clear that she is committed to building a country that works for everyone – not just the privileged few.That is why this Government has made great efforts to help people into work, reforming the welfare system to make work pay and introducing Universal Credit to strengthen incentives for parents to move into and progress in work. Evidence shows that under Universal Credit claimants move into work significantly faster and stay in work longer than under the old system. In addition, Universal Credit now provides for 85% of childcare costs giving parents the opportunity to work and earn more, so they can support their families and improve outcomes for their children. We have also announced a 2% reduction in the Universal Credit single taper meaning more support for hardworking families. Around 3 million families across the country will benefit from this change and a couple with two children earning £30,000 a year could benefit by £425 a year.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff are seconded to his Department; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.

Mark Lancaster: As of 20 April 2017, 160 staff are currently seconded to the Ministry of Defence, from the following companies and organisations: Private Sector Companies * Atomic Weapons Establishment~BAE Systems~KPMG~Leonardo~Network Rail~Rolls Royce~Selex Gallileo~Total 15 Other Government Departments/Agencies * Border Force~Cabinet Office11Civil Service Resourcing70Crown Commercial Service~Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl)32Department for Education~Department for Work and Pensions~Department for Transport~Foreign and Commonwealth Office~GCHQ~Government Legal Department~German Armed Forces Infrastructure Office~Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs5Her Majesty’s Treasury~Home Office~Ministry of Justice~Norfolk Constabulary~The Security Service~ Total145 *Due to departmental policy on disclosure, ~ represents a value of 4 or fewer.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2017 to Question 68699, what the location is of the F35 joint programming laboratory the UK shares with Australia; and how many personnel are employed at that facility.

Harriett Baldwin: The F35 reprogramming laboratory that the UK shares with Australia and Canada is located at Eglin Air Force Base in the USA. We cannot specify the exact number of UK personnel for security reasons, however we will ensure the number of personnel deployed is appropriate for the operational task.

Warships: Shipbuilding

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for each Royal Navy ship and submarine on order, what is the planned launch date; what progress has been made on the sea trials and commissioning; what his most recent estimate is of the cost of each such order; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: HMS Queen Elizabeth was floated out of dry dock in July 2014, is expected to start sea trials this summer and will be accepted into the Royal Navy later in the year. HMS Prince of Wales is expected to be floated out in 2017 and commence sea trials in 2019. The final cost of both Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will be subject to commercial negotiations with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance towards the end of the contract in 2019. I am therefore withholding our current outturn cost estimate as its release would prejudice the commercial interests of the Department. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has also ordered five Offshore Patrol Vessels. The first ship, HMS Forth, was floated out in August 2016 and is currently completing final preparations for Contractor Sea Trials (CST). The second ship, HMS Medway will be floated out this summer. Construction of the remaining three ships is under way following the cut steel ceremony to mark the start of the build programme for the fifth ship, HMS Spey, on 21 April 2017. All five ships will enter service by 2021 at a total cost of £635 million which includes the cost of support. The first of the four Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) Tankers, RFA Tidespring, launched in April 2015 and is currently undertaking UK customisation work ahead of Capability Assessment trials later this year. On current plans, RFA Tidespring will enter service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by the end of 2017. The remaining ships Tiderace, Tidesurge and Tideforce have all been launched. Tiderace undertook the majority of her CSTs in January 2017, and will complete them by mid 2017. The remaining two ships are expected to undertake their CSTs later this year. The MOD’s current planning assumption is that all four MARS Tankers will enter service by the end of 2018. The programme is correctly forecast to deliver approximately £45 million under the approved budget of £595 million.Four Astute class and the first Dreadnought class submarines are currently in production. I am withholding information on their respective planned launch dates, details of sea trials and commissioning activity as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. I am also withholding forecast cost information for the Astute class submarine programme, however I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 February 2017 to Question number 62350 to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Madeleine Moon) which gives the latest published figures for actual expenditure on the programme up to financial year 2015-16. For information regarding the latest forecast cost for the Dreadnought class submarine programme I refer the Rt hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State, the Earl Howe, on the 6 June 2016 to the noble Lady, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, in the House of Lords to Question HL328. 



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Warships: Shipbuilding

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts have been placed by the armed services for ship building in the last 12 months; and what such contracts are proposed to be placed in 2018-19.

Harriett Baldwin: In December 2016 the Ministry of Defence ordered the two additional Offshore Patrol Vessels announced in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.The contract for the first batch of the eight planned Type 26 Global Combat Ships is expected to be agreed by mid-2017 and for manufacture to start this summer.The dates of future orders have yet to be agreed.

Navy: Staff

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Captains and (b) Commanders were employed by the Royal Navy in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: The information requested, as at 1 March of each year, is provided below:  20132014201520162017OF4 – Commander1,0401,0401,0301,0201,030OF5 – Captain280270280280270 Notes: Includes total trained Regular and Full-Time Reserve Service Regular personnelBased on Paid Rank.In line with published data, all numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10, with Numbers ending in 5 rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid bias.

European Fighter Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected Initial Operating Capability date is for the Brimstone 2 missile on the Typhoon aircraft.

Harriett Baldwin: The projected Initial Operating Capability for the integration of Brimstone 2 on Typhoon is December 2018 and we remain on track to achieve that date.

Tornado Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long it took to achieve Initial Operating Capability for the Brimstone 2 missile on the Tornado aircraft.

Harriett Baldwin: It took six years and two months to achieve Initial Operating Capability for the Brimstone 2 missile on Tornado which came into effect in May 2016.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide details of the contract for Phase II of the rotary wing unmanned air system, capability concept demonstrator, awarded to Leonardo helicopters.

Harriett Baldwin: The Ministry of Defence, with Leonardo Helicopters, are jointly funding an £8 million capability concept demonstrator for future Rotary Wing Unmanned Air Systems. It will inform all Front Line Commands of how emerging unmanned rotary wing technologies might contribute to the future battle space. This work will be conducted over the next 12 to 18 months and builds on a number of earlier activities, including further demonstration of autonomous landing capabilities.

Military Exercises: Australia

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) assets and (b) personnel from his Department took part in Royal Australian Navy exercise Ocean Explorer off the coast of Western Australia.

Mike Penning: The United Kingdom did not participate in the Royal Australian Navy exercise Ocean Explorer.

Warships: Shipbuilding

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consultations have taken place with the relevant trade unions on the National Shipbuilding Strategy in the last 12 months.

Harriett Baldwin: We value the support and contribution made by trade unions. Following on from Sir John Parker's trade union engagement prior to publishing his independent report, we have continued to keep trade unions involved as we develop the UK national shipbuilding strategy. Representatives from the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) and GMB have attended Industry stakeholder events. We also undertook a briefing on the shipbuilding strategy followed by a question and answer session at the CSEU Maritime Forum on 13 February 2017.

Navy: Deployment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) operational and (b) other targets and objectives the Royal Navy met during the last 12 months; what major deployments and exercises are planned for the Royal Navy in 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Mike Penning: Over the last year, the Royal Navy has continued to meet all their standing commitments, delivering a strong presence at home and globally in protecting our national interests. These include: Continuous at Sea Deterrent; Fleet Ready Escort; Towed Array Patrol Ship; marine enforcement; mine countermeasures support; Atlantic Patrol Tasking North and South; Gibraltar Squadron; operations East of Suez; contributing to the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) and Standing NATO Response Force; supporting EU and NATO counter-migration operations in the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea.The Royal Navy will continue to take part in a wide range of national and international exercises and deployments in 2018 to ensure that our forces are ready to undertake a range of activities to meet the challenges of an uncertain world. I am withholding the details of future deployments and exercises as release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security and safety of our Armed Forces.

Aircraft Carriers

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 1.12 of the National Audit Office report, Delivering Carrier Strike, published on 16 March 2017, what contingencies his Department is considering to provide ship to shore amphibious operations after the decommissioning of HMS Ocean in 2018.

Harriett Baldwin: The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 made provision to augment the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers and maximise their ability to support our amphibious operations. Together with the existing amphibious ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, this will provide the capability to deploy our amphibious forces.

Veterans: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total amount of Government funding was to charities which support veterans in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence holds information on grants made to units and charities undertaking projects with, for, and including veterans in Northern Ireland from Legacy Funds, the Covenant Fund and the Aged Veterans Fund for the years 2012-13, 2015-16 and 2016-17, broken down below. 2012-13 OrganisationProject Grant FundUlster Defence Regiment & Royal Irish Aftercare ServiceWelfare support network and advisory service for veterans and their dependants in Northern Ireland£50,000LIBOR Funds 2013-2016 2015-16 OrganisationProjectGrantFundBallymacanallen Community AssociationMrs Sergeant's Boys£4,715Covenant Fund38 (Irish) BrigadeHorse-assisted coaching for empowerment, leadership£20,000Covenant FundNI Veterans Therapeutic Gardening ProjectHorticultural Therapy£37,000Covenant FundCombat StressMental Health services for Veterans in Northern Ireland£466,400Covenant FundThe Royal British LegionSomme Nursing Home£600,000Aged Veterans Fund 2016-17 OrganisationProject GrantFundFamilies Acting for Innocent RelativesRemembrance£10,000Covenant FundRathfriland Royal British Legion BranchHilltop to Over the Top£19,478Covenant FundReserve Forces & Cadets Association for Northern Ireland (RFCA NI)Horse-assisted coaching for confidence, leadership, anxiety reduction and communication.£20,000Covenant FundDepartment of Community Mental Health at Thiepval BarracksGreen Care£20,000Covenant FundAA Veterans SupportCounselling and Holistic Support Service£20,000Covenant Fund

Aircraft Carriers

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to reduce the number of amphibious landing crafts used by the Royal Marines.

Harriett Baldwin: The Royal Marines currently operate ten Landing Craft Utility and sixteen Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP). On current plans, four LCVPs will be retired from service in 2018, when their parent ship (HMS OCEAN) is decommissioned. The Naval Service will continue to be able to deliver all planned amphibious tasking.

Armed Forces: Pay

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 51, paragraph 4.49 of the 46th Report of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body, published on 28 March 2017, on what basis his Department calculated that the future accommodation model would result in savings of £500 million over 10 years.

Mark Lancaster: The 2015 Spending Review committed the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to savings of around £500 million from accommodation over the next 10 years through reduced running costs, capital receipts and savings. Inefficiencies in the current model mean that it costs the MOD around two pounds for every pound of effective accommodation subsidy Service personnel receive; by making the model more efficient we aim to realise these savings and also create a fairer model that provides Service personnel with more choice.

Warships: Procurement

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the procurement of fleet support ships; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The programme to deliver the Fleet Solid Support ships entered the Assessment Phase in April 2016. Current activity is focused on developing the technical specification for the ships and confirmation of the vessels' capability requirements.A Ministry of Defence Project Team industry day was held in July 2016 to advertise the requirement and engage potential suppliers. It is intended to continue to engage with industry as the programme progresses.

NATO: Expenditure

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the Government's reported defence expenditure to NATO was categorised as (a) war pensions, (b) contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, (c) the Single Intelligence Account and (d) pensions for retired civilian personnel in each year from 2010 to 2016.

Sir Michael Fallon: In total they represent no more than 5% of our overall Defence spending.

Army: Recruitment

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the key performance indicators are for the contract awarded to Capita for recruitment to the Army.

Mike Penning: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Royal Regiment of Scotland: Recruitment

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people recruited to the Royal Regiment of Scotland in the last year applied through (a) the Army Careers Service and (b) other channels.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many recruits who applied to the Army Careers Service with an address in Scotland in the last year were then deployed to regiments other than the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Mike Penning: The figures to answer the hon. Member's questions are still being compiled and I will write to him when the information is available.

Iraq Historic Allegations Team

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current status is of any Iraqi Historic Allegations Team investigations into the deaths of (a) Baha Mousa in British Army custody in September 2003 and (b) Tariq Sabri al-Fahdawi on board an RAF helicopter in April 2003.

Mike Penning: Following the conclusion of the Baha Mousa Inquiry, the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) were directed by the then Secretary of State to reinvestigate his death. The investigation into the death of Baha Mousa remains ongoing. This is a criminal investigation and it would be inappropriate to provide any further details.The death of Tariq Sabri al-Fahdawi (also known as Tariq Sabri Mahmud) was not investigated by the IHAT, which forwarded the result of their review of the original Royal Air Force Police investigation to the Provost Marshal (Royal Air Force) on 8 March 2012. The further investigation initiated by the RAF Police has been completed, and the Service Prosecution Authority has decided that no-one should face charges in this case.

Home Office

Emergency Services: Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

Calum Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many emergency services masts are planned for construction in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency; and what steps she is taking to ensure that mobile phone services are provided from all four mobile network operators at emergency services network sites.

Brandon Lewis: In delivering the Emergency Services Network (ESN), the mobile network operator EE will deliver up to 291 new mast sites. Government will deliver approximately 230 further sites (known as the “Extended Area Services” (EAS) sites) in the most remote and rural areas of Great Britain. Under the terms of the State Aid decision for ESN, any ESN site where EE offers a commercial service must be made available to the other UK mobile operators and interested parties to provide their own a service on an equal and non-discriminatory basis. The purpose of EAS is to deliver a ‘blue-light’ communications service. The service it will provide is based on road coverage and it has been this requirement which has driven the selection of sites across the country. Site selection criteria for commercial services is done on a different basis; and consequently, there is a variation in the basic requirement of EAS and those of commercial operators. The Home Office led Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP), does recognise the need to exploit the sites being built in the EAS for wider commercial use. ESMCP has been in discussion with the governments of Wales and Scotland, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and has agreed to build these sites, wherever possible, to a design specification that can be readily enhanced to allow site-sharing with commercial operators. For the Westminster Constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, there are currently up to 5 proposed new EE sites in the constituency and the EAS project intend to build twelve new EAS radio sites. In addition, three existing Airwave masts are under consideration, subject to a feasibility investigation. Delivery of these sites is subject to planning permission and the acquisition of land.

Entry Clearances: Families

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the family visitor visa application process is clear and comprehensible to people using that process.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office website contains detailed guidance for customers on the process of applying for a visa.Customer service is a key priority for UK Visas and Immigration, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the visa application process is kept under regular review, including by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. Feedback from customers and partners assists us in continuously improving the services we offer. For example, during 2016 we rolled out a new and more intuitive online visa application process, Access UK.

Visas: Overseas Students

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Tier 4 visa applications was processed within 15 working days in the last 12 months.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office publishes quarterly statistics on the processing of Tier 4 applications within 15 working days (the latest of which were published on 1 December 2016). Reports covering the last 12 months can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/search?q=international+operations+transparency+data&show_organisations_filter=true

Visas

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of applicants for the 30-day entry visas to the UK specified a future date for travel on their application form.

Mr Robert Goodwill: All visa applicants are required as part of the online application process to provide the date on which they intend to travel to the UK.

Police: Finance

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 15 December 2016 on the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2017-18, HCWS360, which Police Innovation Fund projects are still being funded from previous years; and how much has been allocated to each of those projects so funded in each year since the related bid was granted.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 15 December 2016, HCWS360, what projects are still funded from the Police Innovation Fund; and how much has been allocated to each such project throughout its life.

Brandon Lewis: The funding awarded to the projects in 2016-2017 was announced on 17 March 2016 and may be found on the www.gov.uk website. Funding for projects in 2017-18 will also be published on the website in due course.

Fire Service College

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the role of the Fire Service College in (a) providing essential and unique training services to the UK fire and rescue services and (b) assisting the new professional standards body in building a framework of standards for the service.

Brandon Lewis: The Government does not assess the College’s role in the provision of its services.It is the responsibility for individual fire and rescue services to decide where training is procured and assure themselves of the quality of that training. The sector based project team led by the National Fire Chiefs Council are currently undertaking work to explore options for a new professional standards body, and they will engage with the Fire Service College as a valued stakeholder during this process.

Offences against Children

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) boys and (b) girls are currently flagged by police as at risk of child sexual exploitation in the UK.

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are classed as (a) known and (b) suspected child sexual exploitation offenders; and how many were so classed in 2010.

Sarah Newton: The Home Office does not hold the requested information centrally. The police forces of England and Wales will hold their own data on child sexual exploitation offenders for operational purposes.

British Nationality

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average cost to her Department was of administering applications for (a) naturalisation (b) registration to become a British citizen in each year since 2015.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The estimated average cost of processing nationality naturalisation and registration applications in each year since 2015 is detailed within the appropriate publications below: Naturalisation2015/16http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/768/pdfs/uksiem_20150768_en.pdf 2016/17https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/503759/2016_Unit_Costs_Table.pdf 2017/18https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/606616/Unit_cost_table_2017.pdf Registration2015/16http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/768/pdfs/uksiem_20150768_en.pdf

Roads: Accidents

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to provide funding to police collision investigation units.

Brandon Lewis: It is an operational matter for Chief Constables, working with their Police and Crime Commissioners, to determine how to use available resources according to local priorities.

Immigration Enforcement Directorate

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans for the Immigration Enforcement Business Plan for 2016-17 to be published.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department’s plans for immigration enforcement will be communicated in due course.

Asma al-Assad

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of whether recent statements and implications by Asma al-Assad, wife of the Syrian President, was conducted in a manner suitable for her UK citizenship.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office does not comment on individual cases. The Home Secretary can deprive individuals of their citizenship where it is conducive to the public good to do so.

Community Policing

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will work with (a) HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, (b) the College of Policing, (c) the National Police Chiefs Council and (d) the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to draw up a national action plan to ensure the protection of community policing functions across the country.

Brandon Lewis: Decisions about how policing resources are best deployed are for Chief Constables and democratically accountable Police and Crime Commissioners. They are responsible for ensuring the needs of the local community are met. I welcome the work of the Police Reform and Transformation Board, at a national level, in seeking to establish a local policing sub group which will bring together a variety of stakeholders to help to deliver the Policing Vision 2025.

Police

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will work with (a) HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, (b) the College of Policing, (c) the National Police Chiefs Council and (d) the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to draw up a national action plan to increase recruitment and training of police detectives.

Brandon Lewis: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s (HMIC’s) recommendations are primarily for police leaders to take action and ensure progress is made. In its Effectiveness report, published on 2 March 2017, HMIC called on the National Police Chiefs’ Council, working with the College of Policing, to review by June what is being done to tackle concerns over the number of police detectives. HMIC recommended that these bodies should put in place a national action plan by December 2017. We continue to work with national policing leads to encourage better analysis of this issue and the development of sustainable solutions.

EU Nationals: Health Insurance

Heidi Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many citizens from other EU countries with the right to reside in the UK before 29 March 2017 do not have private medical insurance.

Mr Robert Goodwill: EU nationals have a right to reside in the UK for more than three months if they are workers, self-employed, jobseekers, self-sufficient persons or students, are a family member of an EU national or have acquired a right of permanent residence in EU law. Under EU law, self-sufficient persons and students are required to hold comprehensive sickness insurance. The Home Office does not hold any information on the number of citizens from other EU Member states who do not have comprehensive sickness insurance.

Police

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2017 to Question 69588, on police, which recommendations contained in the Reshaping Policing for the Public report her Department (a) plans to implement and (b) has implemented since that report was published.

Brandon Lewis: The paper, “Reshaping Policing for the Public”, was intended to stimulate discussion on the future of policing, concluding that “the police service must go further in changing itself so that it continues to achieve its primary goal of preventing crime and keeping the public safe”. Since the publication of this paper, the Government has provided support to the policing sector to enable it to become self-reforming. This includes the Police Transformation Fund (PTF) which provides Police and Crime Commissioners with a real opportunity to transform policing and it is incentivising policing to meet future challenges by being more efficient and effective. The Police Reform and Transformation Board makes recommendations to the Home Secretary about how to spend the PTF.

Refugees: Housing

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have offered a home to refugee (a) children and (b) families in the last 12 months; and how many of those offers have been taken up.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The British public has been very generous in their offers to help and accommodate refugees under the UK’s Resettlement schemes. Many have made offers of housing directly to their local authority or through the Help Refugees in the UK website. We don’t hold information about how many offers of housing are made or taken up by local authorities. Some community groups are also offering housing for refugees through the Community Sponsorship scheme. This is a new scheme launched in July, for which we do not currently report numbers.

Entry Clearances

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to enable non-EEA applicants to be issued with a certificate of application.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Under Regulation 18(3) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016, non-EEA nationals who make a valid application for EEA documentation are already issued with a certificate of application.

Airguns

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a compulsory trigger lock on air rifles; and if she will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Government keeps the legislation relating to air weapons in England and Wales under review. High-powered air weapons require a firearms licence and low-powered air weapons are already subject to a range of controls, such as the requirement that owners take reasonable precautions to prevent young people from gaining unauthorised access to air weapons. Guidance is published on the safe use and storage of air weapons and this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117804/air-weapons-safety-leaflet.pdf

West Midlands Police: Accenture

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of West Midlands Police Force's Innovation and Integration partnership with Accenture on (a) crime prevention and (b) the pace of response to reported crimes in that area.

Brandon Lewis: This is a matter for the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands.

Police Stations: Harrow

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had on the closure of Harrow Police Station; and if she will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Decisions relating to police stations and other estates are a matter for the Metropolitan Police Service, working with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.

Crime

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reported crimes have led to no further action being taken by police in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: We expect police to investigate all crimes that are reported to them. All forces will suspend crime investigations if, after initial investigation, they conclude that there are no further lines of enquiry to pursue because there is no evidence trail or witnesses. These decisions are an operational matter for forces, but investigations can be reopened at any time should further evidence come to light. The Home Office collects and publishes quarterly data on crime outcomes recorded by the police. The latest available data are published in the ‘Crime Outcomes in England and Wales, year to September 2016’ data tables, available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-year-to-september-2016-data-tables

Police

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) policing staff were employed in each force in England and Wales in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office collects and publishes data biannually on the number of police officers and police staff employed by each police force. These data can be found in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins. The latest statistics, representing the picture as at 30 September 2016, can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2016

Arrests

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests have been made in each year since 2010; and how many have led to (a) prosecution and (b) conviction in each of those years.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office collect and publish data on the number of arrests for notifiable offences, by police force area, on an annual basis. Data can be found in the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical bulletin and accompanying tables, the latest of which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2016 The Home Office does not hold information on the number of arrests that led to a prosecution or conviction. Data on prosecutions and convictions are the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice. Data on arrests cannot be linked to prosecution and conviction data.

Department for International Development

Palestinians: Domestic Violence

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Authority and her Department, whether her Department has had discussions with the Palestinian Authority on the content of a programme on Official Palestinian Authority TV, entitled Talk of the Land, broadcast on 1 April 2017, promoting domestic violence.

Rory Stewart: We have not discussed the content of this particular programme with the Palestinian Authority (PA). The UK deplores any promotion of violence against women and girls. The UK assess the PA’s commitment to gender equality, including tackling domestic violence, through their adherence to the UK Partnership Principles and we raise concerns where appropriate. As part of our Security and Justice programme we have supported the PA to tackle violence against women through training specialised public prosecutors and judges and developing specialised units that cater to female victims of violence.

Hannah Bladon

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that no funding from the public purse is used by the Palestinian Authority to support or assist any person involved in the murder of Hannah Bladon in Jerusalem; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: UK financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is only used to fund the salaries of PA health and education public servants in the West Bank who are on a vetted EU list. The list of eligible beneficiaries is subject to a vetting process that includes screening against international and ad hoc sanctions lists, covering a large number of different risk categories including terrorism financing. The UK utterly deplores any violence or intolerance.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff are seconded to her Department; and how many such staff and from which companies and organisations those staff are seconded.

George Eustice: As at 31 March 2017 there were a total of 54 secondments in the department from the Defra group and external organisations. These are listed below: Environment Agency27Natural England7Forestry Commission14Affinity Water1British Sugar1Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust1United Utilities1Wessex Water1Westminster City Council1

Environment Agency: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who makes appointments to the Board of the Environment Agency; which other organisations or individuals provide advice on those appointments; and at what stage of the process such advice is provided.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Under the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments, the Secretary of State makes appointments to the Board of the Environment Agency after receiving advice from an Advisory Assessment Panel, comprising a Departmental official as Panel chair, a representative from the Environment Agency and an independent Panel member. The Secretary of State also receives advice on appointments from the appropriate Minister at various stages of the process.

Food: Exports

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase exports of British food and drink products.

George Eustice: Increasing exports is a top priority for this Government. In October 2016, Defra and the Department for International Trade launched the joint Government and industry ‘UK Food and Drink International Action Plan 2016-2020’ at SIAL in Paris. This details how Government and industry will work in partnership to promote UK food and drink overseas, break down trade barriers and open up new international markets.

Food Supply

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department is doing to improve the supply of UK-produced gluten-free food to consumers.

George Eustice: The Department of Health is currently conducting a consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on NHS prescription, and this is expected to close on 22 June 2017.   The Government has a policy of supporting our food and farming industry so that we can grow more and sell more British produce.

Food: Prices

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the gluten-free food prices compared to overall food prices in each of the last five years.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on steps to reduce the cost of gluten-free foods for people no longer able to access such foods by prescription.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will hold discussions with supermarkets on the cost of gluten-free foods.

George Eustice: The Department of Health (DH) is currently conducting a consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on NHS prescription, and this is expected to close on 22 June 2017. It is not the role of Government to set food prices or comment on decisions taken by individual companies. We monitor food prices closely using CPI data, but do not monitor the prices of individual product lines. We work to promote transparency and open global markets internationally, as well as a competitive domestic market to help producers and retailers offer the best prices to consumers. Defra ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of the food retailers. Officials from Defra and Department of Health (DH) meet regularly to discuss a range of issues relating to health and nutrition policy.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress her Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

George Eustice: The details of the government land and property released over the previous financial year will be published as part of the Transparency Review in summer 2017.

Fisheries: EU Law

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what EU fisheries legislation her Department plans to (a) replace and (b) preserve before the UK leaves the EU in order to prevent a regulatory deficit.

George Eustice: The Great Repeal Bill will place existing EU laws on a UK legal basis. Parliament will then be free to amend those laws as it sees fit. The Government is currently considering its approach to future fisheries policy once we leave the EU.

European Fisheries Fund: Membership

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to continue its membership of the European Fisheries Fund until it expires automatically in 2020.

George Eustice: In October 2016, the Chancellor confirmed that the Government will guarantee EU funding for structural and investment fund projects, including the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), signed after the Autumn Statement and which continue after we have left the EU. Funding for projects will be honoured by the Government if they are good value for money and they are in line with domestic strategic priorities.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2017 to Question 64997, on procurement, what estimate she has made of the total budget for managing procurement in each year since 2010.

George Eustice: The budget for Core Defra’s procurement function for each of the financial years from 2010-11 is shown below. £0002010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17Budget4,4753,8543,3383,1512,5994,0603,560 A corporate services transformation programme is ongoing within Defra. The first stage of this transformation for procurement saw teams from Animal & Plant Health Agency, Natural England and Marine Maritime Organisation transferred into Defra on 1st October 2014. This meant a 57% increase in headcount in core Defra, and resulted in increased procurement budgets for 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Slaughterhouses: Cattle

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department collates information on the number of pregnant cows slaughtered annually.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's policy is on the slaughter of pregnant cows.

George Eustice: The Department does not collate information on the number of pregnant cows slaughtered annually. The Government encourages the highest standards of welfare at both slaughter and during transport. It is illegal under the welfare in transport legislation to transport any pregnant animal where more than 90% of the gestation period has elapsed; this includes transporting pregnant animals to slaughterhouses. For TB infected cattle, most are removed from farms within 10 working days of disclosure. However, since September 2015 owners of heavily pregnant TB affected cows have had the option of keeping the animal on farm until it has calved, up to a maximum of 28 days. The slaughter of pregnant animals is not itself currently covered by additional specific welfare requirements. The European Food Safety Authority is due to release a scientific report on this issue in the near future.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Conditions of Employment

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of staff employed by her Department are employed on a contract which is (a) full-time permanent, (b) part-time permanent, (c) for less than two years' duration, (d) on an agency basis and (e) zero-hours.

George Eustice: As at 31 March 2017 the proportion of staff employed in the department is shown below:  Headcount%Full-Time permanent staff158776.6%Part-Time permanent staff26512.8%Fixed / Short Term appointments employed for less than two years984.7%Agency Basis staff1215.8%Zero-Hours00.0%Total2071  It is not Defra Policy to employ staff on “Zero-Hours” contracts.

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State of 30 March 2017, Official Report, column 480-2, on animal welfare, whether she plans to strengthen legislation on animal cruelty.

George Eustice: The Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act) provides clear offences relating to animal cruelty. One strength of the 2006 Act is that anyone can take out a prosecution. This has been a powerful tool in promoting animal welfare. In 2015, 936 people were sentenced for animal cruelty offences under the 2006 Act, of which 91 were given an immediate custodial sentence.

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average sentence served has been by people convicted of animal cruelty in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: The table below provides the average custodial sentence length for offences under s4 (causing unnecessary suffering) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for each of the last five years for which figures are available. Year20112012201320142015Average custodial sentence length (months)3.13.43.53.13.3

Packaging: Waste Disposal

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost of fees paid by obligated organisations to PRN compliance schemes was in each of the last five years; and what the total value of trade in packaging recovery notes and packaging export recovery notes was in each of the last five years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations, obligated organisations (“producers”) can choose to join a compliance scheme or register directly with the Environment Agency. Based on statutory annual registration fees and data that the Environment Agency holds on the number of registered producers, the estimated total annual registration fees paid by obligated organisations in England in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:   20122013201420152016£3,107,188£3,068,604£3,073,252£3,102,644£3,122,448 Obligated organisations may pay additional administrative or other fees to compliance schemes as part of commercial arrangements between them. We do not hold data on these fees.   The total packaging waste recovery notes (PRN) and packaging waste export recovery notes (PERN) revenue reported to the Environment Agencies by accredited reprocessors and exporters in each of the last five years is shown in the following table: 20122013201420152016£62,187,482£111,516,379£63,800,566£64,249,373£50,225,274

Packaging: Waste Disposal

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research her Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned into packaging recovery note (PRN) market; what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reforming the PRN system; and which organisations she has consulted on the scope for such reforms.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: In 2015 Defra commissioned an external consultancy to undertake economic analysis and research into various aspects of the operation of the market for packaging waste recovery notes (PRN). The resulting reports will be published in due course. In response to the ongoing negotiation of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package, and in relation to the potential impacts of EU Exit, a wide range of stakeholders have been engaging with Government to provide advice and recommendations for the potential future of the UK’s packaging waste system. Submissions have included options for reforming the current system. Defra will take this information into account in the formulation of any future policy.

LEADER Programme

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on future funding of the LEADER programme.

George Eustice: The Government has confirmed that it will guarantee funding for LEADER projects that are signed before EU exit as long as they are good value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities. Leaving the EU provides the opportunity to take our own decisions about how we deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding.

Neonicotinoids

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the merits of the National Farmer Union's application for the use of neonicotinoids.

George Eustice: The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) applied for authorisations to use two neonicotinoids to protect oilseed rape crops planted in England this year. This use of neonicotinoids is not routinely permitted but the legislation allows for “emergency” authorisation of the limited and controlled use of a pesticide to control a danger which cannot be contained by any other reasonable means. Decisions on whether or not to grant authorisation are made on the basis of an examination of the technical and scientific information submitted by the applicant. This assessment is made by the independent UK Expert Committee on Pesticides (ECP) and the Health and Safety Executive. The ECP has submitted its advice on the NFU applications to the Government. It finds that neither of the applications meets the requirements for emergency authorisation. The ECP’s full advice note has been published on the GOV.UK website. Based on the evidence and the expert advice, Defra has rejected the applications.

Packaging: Waste Disposal

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the level of competition between compliance schemes for the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations; and what consideration has she given to the effect of introducing a single compliance scheme.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: In 2015 Defra commissioned an external consultancy to undertake economic analysis and research into various aspects of the operation of the market for packaging waste recovery notes (PRN). This included work that examined certain aspects of competition between compliance schemes. The final reports will be published in due course. No formal assessment has been made of introducing a single compliance scheme system.

HM Treasury

Treasury: Conditions of Employment

Rob Marris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of staff employed by his Department are employed on a contract which is (a) full-time permanent, (b) part-time permanent, (c) for less than two years' duration, (d) on an agency basis and (e) zero-hours.

Simon Kirby: As at 31 December 2016, HM Treasury employed the following members on a contract: Contract typeNumber of employeesProportion of employeesFulltime Permanent107489%Part-time Permanent837%FTC less than 2 years504%  Details on the number of agency staff can be found in our Workforce Management Information which is published online and can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmt-workforce-management-information-december-2016 There are currently no employees at HM Treasury working on zero-hours contracts.

Office for Budget Responsibility: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications the board of the Office for Budget Responsibility received during its last intake.

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the Office for Budget Responsibility board are (a) women, (b) from black or minority ethnic backgrounds, (c) disabled or (d) from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, who makes appointments to the Board of the Office for Budget Responsibility; which other organisations or individuals provide advice on those appointments; and at what stage of the process such advice is provided.

Simon Kirby: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) oversight board is made up of the Chair of the OBR, two members of the Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC) and two non-executive members. Appointments to the BRC are made by the Chancellor, subject to the consent of the Treasury Select Committee. When appointing executive members of the BRC, the Chancellor will consult with the Chair of the OBR. For appointments of non-executive members, the recruitment process will be conducted by the OBR, but the final appointment will be made by the Chancellor. The interview panel for this is chaired by a non-executive member of the OBR and includes a lead Treasury official. Further information on appointments can be found in the OBR and HM Treasury framework document available here: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/314705/PU1675_OBR_and_HMT_framework_document.pdf During the last recruitment exercise for a board member of the OBR, where the Chancellor appointed the executive BRC member Sir Charlie Bean, 6 applications were received. Table 2.3 in the OBR’s 2015-16 annual report and accounts specifies that one female and 4 males make up the BRC and non-executive members. The report is available here: www.budgetresponsibility.org.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/56061-OBR-AR-2016_Web.pdf). A breakdown of the board by ethnicity, disability and socio-economic background is not publically available.

Treasury: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress his Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment there set out.

Mr David Gauke: Increasing the supply of land for new homes is central to this Government’s vision of a country that works for everyone. The Government has an ambition to release surplus public land with capacity for at least 160,000 homes during this Parliament. This target was set at the Autumn Statement in 2015 and reiterated in the recent Housing White Paper. Progress towards meeting this ambition is set out in Table 3 of the Public Land for Housing Programme Annual Report published in February 2017, which shows that between 8 May 2015 and 30 September 2016 all departments released land for a total of 13,817 homes. It is the responsibility of the Treasury, alongside the Cabinet Office, to provide oversight, support and challenge to the Public Land for Housing Programme.

Banks

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to establish a United Kingdom Investment Bank.

Mr David Gauke: The government has a strong institutional structure in place to make sure UK businesses can access the finance they need for key investment projects. The British Business Bank improves access to finance for small and medium-size businesses. As of end-January 2017, British Business Bank programmes have supported more than £8.5bn of finance to more than 54,000 businesses. The UK Guarantees Scheme provides a Treasury-backed guarantee for infrastructure bonds and loans to avoid delays to investment in UK infrastructure projects. It works by providing a sovereign-backed guarantee to help projects access finance. At Autumn Statement the government committed to keep the scheme open until at least 2026. London is also the world’s premier international financial centre, being home to over 250 foreign banks, more than any other financial centre. This allows private banks to lend to a wide range of businesses smoothly and efficiently.

Treasury: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff are seconded to his Department; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.

Simon Kirby: The number of secondments to HM Treasury and the companies from which they came, as at 31st March 2017, can be found in the attached table:



Table for 70959
(PDF Document, 15.52 KB)

Disability: Motor Vehicles

Kate Green: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people by health condition were in receipt of a tax exemption or reduction for a disability vehicle in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: HM Treasury does not hold this information. Eligibility for Vehicle Excise Duty exemption or reduction is based on whether the individual receives certain mobility allowances and not the individual’s specific health condition.

Tax Allowances: Schools

Rachel Reeves: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax and business rates private and public schools saved as a result of their charitable status in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: This information is not available. The data that HM Revenue and Customs hold on charitable donations and associated tax reliefs cannot be broken down into such sector specific details.

Enterprise Investment Scheme: Energy

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to review the effect of the Enterprise Investment Scheme on energy businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Energy generation is not a qualifying activity for the tax advantaged venture capital schemes, including the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). The purpose of this rule is to ensure that the tax reliefs offered through the schemes are well targeted towards encouraging investment into companies that struggle to access the finance they need to grow. Companies that develop energy generation technology may still qualify for the schemes.

North Sea Oil

Charlie Elphicke: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a Norwegian-style oil exploration tax rebate system for encouraging further oil exploration in the UK sector of the North Sea.

Jane Ellison: The Government recognises the importance of exploration and appraisal activity to the future of the oil and gas industry. The best way to support this is through a competitive tax regime, rewarding exploration by improving the economics of new discoveries. Since 2014, the Government has significantly cut tax rates for the oil and gas sector and introduced a new Investment Allowance, reducing the effective tax rate paid by producers at the exploration stage. The UK now has one of the most competitive tax regimes for oil and gas in the world. The Government has also funded two £20m programmes of seismic surveys, across 2015 and 2016. The data and analysis from these surveys will help to support activity in under-explored areas of the UK Continental Shelf.

Non-domestic Rates

Dan Jarvis: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the rateable value of pubs and restaurants is assessed on the basis of turnover whereas that of other businesses is assessed on profit.

Jane Ellison: The Rateable Value of a property is the annual rent it would achieve if let on the open market at a valuation date set in law. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) determine Rateable Values by referring to rents agreed on similar properties in the local area. Most non-domestic properties, such as offices, shops and restaurants, are assessed on the basis of their rental value per square metre in line with what happens in the rental market. Rents paid for public houses are also used to determine the appropriate Rateable Value. The approach of valuing per square metre is not used as the market uses trading potential (turnover) to determine levels of rent. This is a recognised way of valuing pubs and has been agreed between the VOA and a number of trade associations.

Cabinet Office

Newspaper Press: Advertising

Clive Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the budget the Government has for advertising in newspapers for each government department in the 2017-18 financial year.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 24 March 2017



The Cabinet Office does not hold information regarding government departments’ budgets for newspaper advertising in the 2017/18 financial year. Departmental marketing communications teams, working with their media planning and buying agencies, take decisions about which kinds of media and specific channels will be used within their communications campaigns to best reach their target audiences, once their campaign strategies have been defined.

Government Departments: Evening Standard

Clive Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government spent on advertising in the Evening Standard newspaper in the last financial year for which information is available.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 24 March 2017



In the full 2015/16 financial year, government spending on advertising in the Evening Standard newspaper totalled £297,037 (spending on print advertising and digital advertising where it was bought directly). This equated to approximately 0.22% of all media buying for government advertising in that financial year. I am aware of the comments that the Hon. Member has made in the media on the appointment of the new editor of the Evening Standard. I would note that any spending on advertising is in line with the Government Communication Service’s Propriety Guidance. In addition, departmental Accounting Officers have a particular responsibility for the propriety of using public resources for advertising, as well as for the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of their use. The resources employed should be proportional to the objectives or policy of the programme involved and justifiable on value-for-money grounds. I believe this provides an appropriate system of checks to avoid any conflict of interest and ensure taxpayers’ money is properly spent.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's publication, Electoral Integrity Pilots: Prospectus, published in March 2017, how local support will be defined for the pilot; and what mechanisms he plans to use to measure that support.

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 9 of his Department's publication, Electoral Integrity Pilots: Prospectus, published in March 2017, how his Department plans to define and evaluate that the pilot has an effective business case and offers value for money.

Chris Skidmore: The pilot schemes currently scheduled to run in some local authority areas in May 2018 will test the impact on elections in Great Britain of asking voters to present identification at polling stations before voting. The prospectus, published in March, has set out in detail the Government’s plans for delivering and evaluating the pilot schemes, so that the schemes meet our objectives of reducing opportunities for fraud, and enhancing public confidence in the security of elections in Great Britain.

Cabinet Office: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff are seconded to his Department; and how many such staff and from which companies and organisations those staff are seconded.

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff are employed by 10 Downing Street on a seconded basis; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.

Chris Skidmore: The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office and is included in this reply. As March 2017, Cabinet Office had 36 staff seconded in from outside of the Civil Service. Full details of the companies and organisations that staff are seconded from are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Elections: Training

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the announcement of the then Minister for Constitutional Reform on 22 October 2015, the launch of an online academy to promote best practice in electoral services, what progress his Department has made on that policy proposal to date; and what the reason is for the time taken to implement that policy proposal.

Chris Skidmore: The Cabinet Office, Electoral Commission and Association of Electoral Administrators agreed that work to identify, promote and develop sharing good practice, will be led by the Electoral Commission and Association of Electoral Administrators through existing infrastructure rather than creating a new 'academy' platform. The Cabinet Office will continue to play an important role as a partner in this work.

Brexit

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the Civil Service has the (a) project planning, (b) benefits realisation and (c) contract management capabilities required for negotiations with the EU.

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many posts related to EU negotiations the Government had planned to fill to date; and how many such posts have been filled.

Chris Skidmore: Workforce planning is primarily the responsibility of each department. The Civil Service constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government's commitment to leave the EU and get the best deal for the UK. Civil Service HR is working with all departments, functions and professions across the Civil Service to better understand their capacity and capability requirements. The Civil Service is focused on delivering this Government’s commitment to leave the EU and get the very best deal for the UK. We are equipping ourselves with the right people and the right skills across government to make this happen.

House of Lords Appointments Commission: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many applications the board of the House of Lords Appointment Commission received during its last intake.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who makes appointments to the Board of the House of Lords Appointments Commission; which other organisations or individuals provide advice on those appointments; and at what stage of the process such advice is provided.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the House of Lords Appointments Commission are (a) women, (b) from black or minority ethnic backgrounds, (c) disabled or (d) from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Chris Skidmore: Appointments to the House of Lords Appointments Commission are made by the Prime Minister. Four members, including the Chairman, are independent of Government and the political parties and are appointed after an open competition. The other three members are nominated by the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties respectively. The membership of the Appointments Commission is a matter of public record. Beyond this, it would not be appropriate or consistent with the data protection principles to comment on the diversity characteristics of individual members. 40 applications were received for the most recent round of appointments to the Appointments Commission, which were announced in October 2013.

Zero Hours Contracts

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are employed on zero-hours contracts in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK.

Chris Skidmore: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 25 April 2017.The correct answer should have been:

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ70521 and PQ70252
(PDF Document, 201.58 KB)

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ70521 and PQ70252
(PDF Document, 201.58 KB)

Zero Hours Contracts

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people aged between 16 and 24-years old are employed on zero-hours contracts in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK.

Chris Skidmore: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 25 April 2017.The correct answer should have been:

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ70251 and PQ70252
(PDF Document, 201.58 KB)

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ70251 and PQ70252
(PDF Document, 201.58 KB)

Cabinet Office: Social Media

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department is enrolled on any trusted flagger programmes with social media companies.

Chris Skidmore: The Cabinet Office is not enrolled on any trusted flagger programme.

Carbon Monoxide: Wolverhampton

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in Wolverhampton in each of the last 10 years.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ70326
(PDF Document, 206.84 KB)

Cabinet Office: Cybercrime

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) staff of his Department and (b) consultants have been employed in cyber security roles in each of the last five years.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 24 April 2017



Within Cabinet Office, the Cyber and Government Security Directorate (CGSD) is responsible for ensuring delivery of the National Cyber Security Strategy. At any one time approximately 45 full time equivalent staff in CGSD work directly on cyber security. There have been no consultants employed in cyber security roles within CGSD over the last 5 years. At various times CGSD has employed secondees from the private sector. There are other roles in Cabinet Office teams which work partially on cyber security as part of broader policy and security issues. Details of exact numbers of roles and responsibilities over the last five years could only be determined at a disproportionate cost.

Equal Pay: Public Sector

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of trends in the gender pay gap in the public sector in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ71506
(PDF Document, 129.62 KB)

Investment: Morecambe and Lunesdale

David Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much Government investment has been made in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2015.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ71414
(PDF Document, 65.95 KB)

Heart Diseases: Death

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many deaths from cardiovascular disease there were in (a) England and (b) each parliamentary constituency in the last 10 years.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ71525
(PDF Document, 75.32 KB)




Table 2
(Excel SpreadSheet, 107 KB)

Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had on including Jainism as a religious category in the UK census; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ71418
(PDF Document, 64.15 KB)

Crime

Steve McCabe: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of unreported crimes in England and Wales in 2016.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ71425
(PDF Document, 66.02 KB)

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Disclosure of Information

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for what reason his Department has not published spend greater than £25,000 since July 2016; and when that information will be published.

Greg Hands: Following the formation of the Department for International Trade (DIT) we have been reviewing and developing our processes for collating this data. This has now been finalised and we are working to collate data for the whole department. This has involved working across multiple departmental systems due to the Machinery of Government changes creating DIT. In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Department aims to start publishing later in 2017 and this will include backdated information.

Department for International Trade: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress his Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

Greg Hands: The Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 were conducted before the establishment of the Department for International Trade (DIT) and at this time UK Trade and Investment was part of the then Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). When DIT was set up there was no transfer of land assets from BIS or FCO and hence DIT do not own any land or property assets that could be sold.

Department for International Trade: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of his Department's spending on procurement management since its formation.

Greg Hands: The Commercial Function within the Department for International Trade has a wider remit than Procurement Management therefore it is not possible to disaggregate this spending.

Department for International Trade: Third Sector

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with which civil society organisations officials of his Department have met to discuss environmental protection and trade since July 2016.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade is working with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs on relevant areas of trade policy and have met with, and continue to meet, a variety of civil society organisations. We are working closely with them across a range of areas, including environmental protection, as we develop our approach to trade policy.

Department for International Trade: Third Sector

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with which civil society organisations officials of his Department have met to discuss fair trade since July 2016.

Greg Hands: The UK is a long standing supporter of fair trade. Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organisations as part of the normal course of business. These discussions cover a wider range of issues, including fair trade.

Arms Trade: Export Controls

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which Government department has the lead responsibility for assessing each of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

Mark Garnier: CriterionLead DepartmentCriterion 1FCOCriterion 2FCOCriterion 3FCOCriterion 4FCOCriterion 5MODCriterion 6FCOCriterion 7MOD and FCOCriterion 8DfIDFurther details are set out in Annex A of the United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2015. Although this publication predates the creation of the Department for International Trade, the lead departments as set out above are unchanged. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-annual-report-on-strategic-export-controls-2015).

Overseas Trade

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how the requirement for a cultural fit for prospective contractors will be linked to the subject matter of the contract.

Greg Hands: I refer the hon Member for Birmingham, Ladywood to the answer I gave to the hon Member for Ochil and South Perthshire on 7 March 2017, UIN: 66362.

Overseas Trade

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, on what basis the requirement for a cultural fit for prospective contractors will be judged.

Greg Hands: I refer the hon Member for Birmingham, Ladywood to the answer I gave to the hon Member for Ochil and South Perthshire on 7 March 2017, UIN:66362.

Imports: Zimbabwe

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what restrictions exist on the import to the UK of goods from Zimbabwe.

Greg Hands: Imports from Zimbabwe must comply with all relevant licensing and declaration requirements. As a member of the interim Eastern and Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU, the import of goods from Zimbabwe currently benefit from duty-free access to the UK.

Overseas Trade: Qatar

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to improve bilateral trade with Qatar.

Mark Garnier: UK and Qatar share a strong and growing trade and investment relationship. In 2015 UK exports to Qatar totalled £2.6 billion, with Qatar exports to UK at £2.7 billion. The United Kingdom is Qatar’s number 1 destination for foreign direct investment.My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade hosted a Qatar-UK Business and Investment Forum in London and Birmingham on 27 and 28 March. Qatar committed to investing £5 billion across the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, over the next 3 years. The UK also committed, via UK Export Finance, to increase the amount of export finance available to support trade with Qatar to £4.5 billion.

Overseas Trade: Gulf States

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions his Department has had with the Governments of Bahrain and Kuwait on future investment and trade deals; and what assessment he has made of opportunities available to UK businesses in those countries.

Greg Hands: Bahrain and Kuwait are important trading partners and there are significant opportunities for UK businesses in both countries. We have been liaising closely with their Governments on strengthening our investment and trade links and we have been supporting new business opportunities in the region in order to promote British exports.Both Bahrain and Kuwait are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a Customs Union, so are not able to enter into bilateral trade deals. The GCC is one of the UK’s biggest export markets outside of the EU, and there could be significant opportunities in a stronger trading arrangement with all GCC countries. At the GCC Leaders’ Summit in December, in Manama, the Prime Minister announced the creation of the UK-GCC Trade and Investment Working Group to examine how we can unblock remaining barriers to trade and take steps to further liberalise our economies for the benefit of our mutual prosperity.

Department for International Trade: Staff

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of trade negotiators that will be required to conduct parallel negotiations with the EU, the World Trade Organisation and other nations in the next two years.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade has a strong core of trade policy officials, which has quadrupled in size since 24 June (from 45 to over 200) and is continuing to grow. This includes policy and country specialists, as well as economic analysts and lawyers. At this stage our primary focus is on developing our policy positions, international relationships and approach to future trade negotiations.

Department for International Trade: Freedom of Information

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff in his Department respond to Freedom of Information requests.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade (DIT) does not have a specific number of staff tasked with responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. On receipt, FOI requests are allocated to officials in the area of the Department relevant to the subject of the request, who then provide the response.The Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Information Rights Unit (IRU) processes all FOI requests on behalf of DIT and provides advice and assistance to staff on the application of information rights legislation. The IRU consists of eight members of staff.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many security passes giving access to the House of Commons Commission's premises have been issued in each year since 2010.

Tom Brake: The Pass Office database has full records for the last three years. Therefore, the table below shows how many security passes have been issued from April 2014.Passes issued 2014201520162017January 1,0511,1641,394February 8571,0691,247March 9399991,397April805806986 May8332,0411,043 June1,0851,1381,224 July1,0969821,114 August669737992 September1,2521,3371,325 October1,3351,3411,298 November1,0421,2301,295 December8368491,036 Totals 8,953  13,308  13,545  4,038

House of Commons: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2017 to Question 65000, on procurement, what estimate he has made of the amount spent on procurement management in each year since 2010.

Tom Brake: The actual cost of the House of Common’s procurement and commercial function in the years in question was: 2010/11608,6392011/12629,2702012/13719,5592013/14540,3772014/15466,9362015/16654,9552016/17778,122

Department of Health

Aortic Dissection

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of aortic dissection there were in England in each of the last 10 years.

David Mowat: Data is not held on the number of cases of aortic dissection. Data is however held on the number of National Health Service hospital attendances for patients with aortic dissection. This data only includes patients that have been admitted into hospital and the same person may have been admitted into a NHS hospital on more than one occasion. The table contains a count of finished admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of aortic dissection for England within the financial years between 2006-07 and 2015-16. A count of finished admission episodes (FAEs)1 with a primary diagnosis2 of Aortic dissection3, for England within the financial years between 2006-07 and 2015-164.Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sectorFinancial yearFAEs2006-079062007-089292008-091,0202009-109792010-111,0412011-121,0322012-131,1302013-141,2712014-151,3282015-161,430Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS DigitalNotes:1. Finished admission episodesA FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period.2. Primary diagnosisThe primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.3. Aortic DissectionICD-10 Clinical Coding Diagnosis:I71.0 - Aortic Dissection4. Assessing growth through time (Admitted patient care)HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information.It should be noted that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, for example 2012-13 includes activity ending between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.

Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust staff to help them manage the multiple changes in the decision-making process at that trust; and if representatives of NHS Improvement will visit that trust to speak to staff.

Mr Philip Dunne: NHS Improvement and NHS England will continue to work with the Trust to support their work to improve services for patients. Representatives of NHS Improvement are meeting with staff representatives from Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust and will continue to engage and regularly meet with staff in the coming months.

Junior Doctors: Conditions of Employment

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment was made prior to the implementation of the junior doctors' contract in 2016 of the additional financial and administrative cost associated with (a) pay protection, (b) additional hours payments, (c) guardian fines, (d) guardian of safe working hours role and (e) exception reporting management.

Mr Philip Dunne: The contract will be recurrently cost-neutral with the exception of additional employer pension contributions arising from the increase in basic pay that was agreed with the British Medical Association as a condition for them entering negotiations in 2013 and was honoured by the Government. This is expected to rise to around £25 million per annum recurrently at the end of transition (circa 0.6% of total contract value). In addition, there are limited non-recurrent costs of pay protection during transition. Upfront assessments of these costs are uncertain. Additional hours payments and any fines reflect additional work carried out and are therefore outside the cost neutral funding envelope and will depend on how trusts manage juniors locally. Exception reporting is managed through rota management software. The role of the Guardian of safe working typically takes up a portion of the time of one consultant in each trust. This is seen as an investment in improving safe working for trainees.

NHS: Managers

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the role of NHS Improvement is in identifying jobs for those NHS executives without a current substantive role.

Mr Philip Dunne: It is not part of NHS Improvement’s remit to identify jobs for National Health Service executives without a current substantive role.

Junior Doctors: Conditions of Employment

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment was undertaken before the implementation of the new contract of the work-life balance of junior doctors.

Mr Philip Dunne: An extensive programme of work is being undertaken, developed with the full involvement of the British Medical Association, to address junior doctors’ non-contractual concerns, particularly through Health Education England’s Working Group on improving junior doctors’ working lives: - reviewing rotations so that junior doctors do not have to change placements more than is necessary and can establish a relationship with a single organisation;- ensuring that junior doctors beginning rotations know their schedule a month earlier than at present;- allowing couples to apply to train in the same area;- offering training placements close to their home for those with caring responsibilities;- introducing a new catch up programme for doctors who take maternity leave or take time off for caring responsibilities;- identifying and removing barriers to flexible (part-time) working; and- reviewing how to make appraisal for junior doctors simpler and less stressful.

Community Health Services: Liverpool

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust's announcement of 30 March 2017 on the new arrangement to manage community services in Liverpool, what is meant by (a) short-term, (b) management arrangement and (c) with support from Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mr Philip Dunne: The recently announced arrangement to manage community services in Liverpool is a short term arrangement, due to last six to nine months. The management arrangement will manage the current Liverpool Community Healthcare Trust’s services until such time as the Trust is dissolved and will cover Board level and corporate services management. The current Director of Operations will continue to be the executive lead for management of the Trust's services to patients. Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust will support the delivery of corporate services, which is an area of particular challenge for the Trust.

Dental Services: Children

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children were seen by an NHS dentist in (a) Batley and Spen constituency, (b) Kirklees, (c) West Yorkshire and (d) England in each of the last seven years.

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of levels of access to NHS dentistry in (a) Batley and Spen constituency and (b) Kirklees.

David Mowat: NHS Digital dental data are not available at constituency level nor is it possible to identify West Yorkshire specifically. Data for the number of children aged 0 to 17 seen in the previous 12 months as at 31 December 2016 and the previous 24 months for periods ending 31 March 2016 to 31 March 2010 are available at specified geographies and dates and can be found in the table below. NHS England has a legal duty to commission services to meet local need. NHS England is considering what steps can be taken to improve dental access in the local area. Period endingEnglandNHS England North (Yorkshire and the Humber)Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health AuthorityKirklees Local AuthorityKirklees Primary Care TrustCountCountCountCountCount31 December 2016 16,743,989732,459-66,385-Break in time series. Data for the period ending 31 December 2016 are not comparable to data from earlier periods.31 March 20168,085,564856,956-75,412-31 March 20157,987,182850,304-74,675-31 March 20147,891,837843,840-74,789-31 March 20137,837,950-823,722-74,85431 March 20127,827,627-819,543-74,72231 March 20117,769,555-813,076-73,65231 March 20107,694,373-804,533-73,534 Notes:1. Data in the above table for 31 December 2016 represent the number of child patients seen in the previous 12 months rather than the previous 24 months as in earlier periods. As this represents a distinct break in the time series, figures for December 2016 are not comparable to earlier data.2. Patients seen are allocated to a geography (e.g. local authority) via the dentist which they attend for treatment and not by the home postcode of the patient.3. The figures are for the number of patients seen at least once during the 12 month period. Patients are counted in this data set on their first visit only.

Junior Doctors: Conditions of Employment

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish (a) the metrics by which the success of the 2016 junior doctors' contract will be measured in the 2018 review and (b) which stakeholders will be consulted in that review.

Mr Philip Dunne: The intention of the Government is that the review will be undertaken by NHS Employers with the British Medical Association and that metrics and any wider consultation will be agreed then between the parties.

Junior Doctors: Working Hours

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the health service of the reduced capacity of junior doctors to undertake additional shifts or internal locums with their own organisations prior to the implementation of the junior doctors' contract in 2016.

Mr Philip Dunne: The new Junior Doctor’s contract retains the same maximum requirement for working hours of an average of 48 hours a week or 56 if the doctor chooses to opt out of the working time regulations. The contract also includes a fidelity clause so that trainees wishing to work extra shifts offer them to the National Health Service first. Further, the General Medical Council has recognised that some trainees that do not work full time may have the capacity to undertake additional shifts and have given their support for those working less than full time to do so. Previous advice was that Less Than Full Time trainees should not undertake additional shifts.The previous contract allowed patterns of working that junior doctors' representatives told us were unsafe. The new contract is much safer and includes new, stronger limits on working hours and patterns. These include:- the maximum number of hours worked in a week reduced from 91 to 72;- the maximum number of consecutive nights reduced from seven to four; and- the maximum number of consecutive long days reduced from seven to five. The new contract puts patients first by requiring that these rules apply also to any additional shifts a trainee might choose to work, ensuring junior doctors are not required to work when tired and that their overall working hours, whether they work for their own or another employer remains within safe limits. These are overseen by a Guardian of Safe Working Hours in every trust. Doctors can therefore offer additional hours to the same overall limits as before but must work them within the new safe limits.

NHS: Pay

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of trends in the real terms pay of people working in the NHS since the introduction of pay restraint in 2011.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Department carried out longitudinal studies on the earnings of medical and non-medical staff employed continuously in the National Health Service both in 2010 and 2015 which were published as part of its evidence to the independent Pay Review Bodies for the 2017/18 public sector pay round. At Annex B of both the Department’s evidence to the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration and to the NHS Pay Review Body for Agenda for Change staff, the studies show that for those staff employed in the NHS in 2010 and still employed in 2015: - Total earnings of Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS) doctors increased by an average of 3.3% each year between 2010 and 2015; and- Total earnings of Agenda for Change increased by an average of between 1.7% and 2.9% per year, depending on staff group. The average annual Consumer Price Index figure over the same period was 2.4%. Note: The data relates to those staff with a record of payment on the NHS Electronic Staff Record payroll system at both March 2010 and March 2015 and is the annualised median increase in the earnings of medical and non-medical staff. The Department’s longitudinal studies ‘Earnings change for HCHS Doctors 2010-2015 – a longitudinal study’ and ‘Earnings change for Agenda for Change contracted employees 2010-2015 – a longitudinal study’ can be accessed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-for-the-ddrb-pay-round-2017-to-2018https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-for-the-nhsprb-pay-round-2017-to-2018

NHS: Job Satisfaction

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of morale in the NHS workforce; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Department uses engagement scores in the NHS Staff Survey1 as a proxy for assessing trends in the level of morale in the National Health Service workforce. As employers across the NHS are responsible for the morale of their staff, the main function of the NHS Staff Survey is to help trusts benchmark their performance against peers to inform plans for improving their staff’s experience of working for the NHS. According to the latest (2016) NHS Staff Survey, staff engagement has risen to its highest level, 3.79/5 up from 3.68 when it was first recorded in 2012. Across the 32 key measures, over 80% were more positive than last year. 90% of NHS staff report their organisation takes positive action on staff health and well-being. However, there is no room for complacency. Engagement scores ranging from acute specialist trusts at 3.94 to ambulance trusts at 3.43. The Department, therefore, continues to commission NHS Employers to support trusts in improving staff experience (covering staff engagement, health and wellbeing)2 through advice, guidance and good practice including, for example, NHS Employers staff engagement resource library3. NHS Employers is also working with NHS England and Public Health England on NHS England’s initiative4 to improve staff health and wellbeing which includes a “CQUIN”5 (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation) incentive payment for trusts to focus on getting staff better access to health and wellbeing initiatives, supporting them to make healthy choices and lead healthy lives. The NHS Social Partnership Forum which includes the Department, unions and employers, is supporting efforts to improve NHS staff morale having launched its “call to action”6 to NHS bodies to tackle high levels of bullying and harassment. Drawing on evidence and frontline experiences, this initiative includes resources, advice and good practice to help organisations develop local plans. Notes:1 http://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/Page/1056/Home/NHS-Staff-Survey-2016/2 http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/retain-and-improve/staff-experience3 http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/retain-and-improve/staff-experience/staff-engagement/staff-engagement-resource-library4 https://www.england.nhs.uk/2015/09/improving-staff-health/5 https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cquin-guidance-16-17-v3.pdf6 http://www.socialpartnershipforum.org/4573

Department of Health: Land

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraphs 1.296 and 1.297 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what progress his Department has made by estimated capacity of land sold since March 2016 in identifying and disposing of land to meet the Government's commitment.

David Mowat: Increasing the supply of land for new homes is central to this Government’s vision of a country that works for everyone. As a major landowner the Government has a crucial role to play in managing its estate more efficiently to secure best value for money for the taxpayer, boost growth and help support the building of new homes. The Government has an ambition to sell land with capacity for at least 160,000 homes by the end of March 2020. Progress towards meeting this ambition is set out in Table 3 of the Public Land for Housing Programme Annual Report published in February 2017, which shows that between 8 May 2015 and 30 September 2016, the Department released land with capacity for 3,516 homes. Public Land for Housing Annual Report 2017 (published February 2017): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-land-for-housing-programme-2015-to-2020-annual-report Housing capacity of sites sold by the five largest landowning departments: DepartmentYear 1 (2015/16)Year 2 (Q1 and 2)Cumulative totalMinistry of Defence8566781,534Department for Transport711,6021,673Department for Communities and Local Government4,2112,4076,618Department of Health2,9715453,516Ministry of Justice1350135Other departments221120341Totals8,4655,35213,817 The Department’s target of £1.95 billion (referred to in paragraph 1.297 of the Spending Review publication referenced in the question) relates to the Spending Review period from 2016-17 to 2020-21. Information on the value of disposals for the 2016-17 financial year is not yet available.

NHS England: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications the board of NHS England - NHS Trusts received during its last intake.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who makes appointments to the Board of NHS England - NHS Trusts; which other organisations or individuals provide advice on those appointments; and at what stage of the process such advice is provided.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the NHS England - NHS Trusts board are (a) women, (b) from black or minority ethnic backgrounds, (c) disabled and (d) from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

David Mowat: The appointments of the Chair and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) to NHS England’s Board are Ministerial public appointments and are made by the Secretary of State for Health. In making NED appointments to the NHS England Board, the Department engages closely with the Chair of NHS England. The primary responsibility for making executive appointments to NHS England’s Board rests with NHS England. Executive Director (ED) appointments are made by the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of NHS England in accordance with the usual appointment process. NHS England’s Board currently consists of nine NEDs – five of these are men and four are women. One NED is from a black/minority ethnic background. In addition, NHS England has seven executive directors, four of whom are voting members of the Board; five are men and two are women. None of the EDs identify themselves as coming from a black or minority ethnic background. No NEDs or EDs identify themselves as being disabled and information about socio-economic backgrounds is not held. During the last 12 months, one new NED and one new ED have been appointed to NHS England’s Board. For the last NED recruitment campaign for NHS England, the Department received 22 applications. This was for the Audit Chair and the advert was live in April 2016. Further information about NHS England Board appointments can be found in paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule A of the Health and Social Act 2012 and also SO3 (page 9) and SO4 (page 12) of NHS England’s Standing Orders which can be found on its website and accessed via the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/pol-0001-standing-orders-v6.pdf The process by which public appointments are made is subject to a Governance Code on Public Appointments. The regulation of appointments against the requirements of this Code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The appointments of the Chair and NEDs to NHS Trust boards are public appointments. The Secretary of State for Health delegates responsibility for making these appointments, through Directions to the NHS Trust Development Authority, which is part of NHS Improvement. Responsibility for making executive appointments to NHS Trust boards rests with the Trust. The process by which public appointments are made is subject to a Governance Code on Public Appointments. The regulation of appointments against the requirements of this Code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The appointment of non-executives and executives to NHS Foundation Trust boards are not public appointments and are managed by the Foundation Trust. Information on the number of women, those from black or minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled, and from lower socio-economic backgrounds for NHS Trust and Foundation Trust boards is not held centrally, neither is the number of applications to NHS Trusts or Foundation Trust boards.

Department of Health: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2017 to Question 66400, on procurement, what estimate he has made of the amount spent on procurement management in each year since 2010.

David Mowat: Expenditure attributable to the Department’s internal administration cost centre (19860 – Procurement) is shown in the following table. These figures are taken from our Business Management System (Budget Control Reports) that are audited by the National Audit Office each year as part of the assurance process. They include all administrative costs (staff costs and wider administrative charges) associated with running a central procurement management function on behalf of the Department. Since 2010 the structure of the team has changed periodically but the figures account for all headcount within both procurement and contract management. Financial YearActual (£)2010-11£5,959,739.292011-12£1,864,745.012012-13£2,623,645.542013-14£2,574,890.642014-15£2,250,793.662015-16£2,267,518.31

NHS: Standards

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS England plans to publish the results of the consultation on the National Patient Reported Outcome Measures programme which closed in March 2016.

Mr Philip Dunne: NHS England plan to publish the report of their consultation, alongside their plans for next steps, in Quarter 2 of 2017/18.

Cancer

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the recently established cancer delivery plans to be published.

David Mowat: Currently there is no co-ordinated date for publication of cancer delivery plans.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy that clinical commissioning groups must undertake a public consultation when decommissioning health and support services.

Mr Philip Dunne: Principles for service change are enshrined in the four reconfiguration tests which state that all local reconfiguration plans should demonstrate: support from commissioners, strong public and patient engagement, clear clinical evidence base and support for patient choice. There are some circumstances where service change must be undertaken quickly and without public consultation, such as temporary closures on the grounds of patient safety.

Bowel Cancer

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to reduce the screening age for bowel cancer to 50; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reducing that screening age.

David Mowat: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes MP) on 10 March 2017 to Question 66349.

Clinical Commissioning Groups: Finance

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total level of the contingency fund held back from clinical commissioning groups was in 2016-17 that was used to offset financial deficits in NHS trusts.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the plans were for spending the contingency fund held back from clinical commissioning groups in 2016-17 in the event that it had not been used to offset financial deficits among NHS Trusts.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what amount of the contingency fund held back from clinical commissioning groups in 2016-17 on account of that fund being used to offset financial deficits had been earmarked for Lambeth and Southwark clinical commissioning groups.

Mr Philip Dunne: The total amount that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were asked to set aside at the start of the 2016-17 financial year was 1% of non-recurrent expenditure totalling £707 million, plus a further £92 million within NHS England direct commissioning. Neither in the case of CCGs nor NHS England direct commissioners was the money held back. It would be for each individual CCG to plan spending the 1% non-recurrent monies – therefore this information would not be held, though NHS England would expect and encourage the CCGs to invest the money in transformation.

Department of Health: Conditions of Employment

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of staff employed by his Department are employed on a contract which is (a) full-time permanent, (b) part-time permanent, (c) for less than two years' duration, (d) on an agency basis and (e) zero-hours.

David Mowat: The number and proportion of staff employed by the Department separated by each contract is given below. Staff TypeHeadcount% of TotalFull Time Permanent1,11978%Part Time Permanent20114%Less than two years contract332%Agency906%Zero Hours00%Grand Total1,443100%

Health Professions: Cleveland

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) full and (b) part-time general practice clinical staff (i) left and (ii) began employment in (A) Stockton North constituency and (B) Stockton South constituency in (1) 2013-14, (2) 2014-15 and (3) 2015-16.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent clinical staff there were in each GP practice in (a) Stockton North constituency and (b) Stockton South constituency in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16; and how many such staff were working (A) part and (B) full-time.

David Mowat: We are able to offer figures by area, and not by practice. The data do not count individuals according to whether they are full-time or part-time workers. We are able to offer total numbers by full-time equivalent (FTE), where one FTE is equal to 37.5 hours per week, and by head count.The attached document details the number of full-time equivalents and head count figures for:- General practitioners (excluding locums);- Nurses; and- Direct patient care staff.The totals cover the following areas:- NHS England Durham, Darlington and Tees Area Team;- NHS England Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Area Team;- NHS England North (Cumbria and North East); and- NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Clinical Commissioning Group.The figures are broken down by year and run from 2013 to 2016. Data from September 2015 onwards is not comparable with previous years due to a change in the data collection methodology.The Department does not keep data at the level of leavers and joiners at constituency level.



PQ70343 attached document
(Excel SpreadSheet, 44.5 KB)

Nurses: Training

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many students were enrolled to study nursing at university in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the number of students who will enrol to study nursing in the Autumn 2017 intake.

Mr Philip Dunne: The table below shows the total number of pre-registration nurse training places that were filled at universities in England in each of the last five years. Course2011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Nurse total17,74117,21917,56819,14719,949 Source: Data from 2014/15 onwards is sourced through Health Education England; data prior to 2014/15 was sourced through the Department’s Financial Information Management System. The application cycle for student nurse intake in autumn 2017 is ongoing. Applicants can continue to apply until the end of June or can enter clearing following A Level results in August. The last publication from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in March 2017 showed that there were 40,560 applicants for the 23,237 commissioned nursing and midwifery courses in England. UCAS will continue to release updated information about the number of offers made by universities and acceptances from candidates.

NHS: Pay

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraph 27 of the NHS Pay Review Body: 30th Report, Cm9440, what assessment he has made of the (a) implications for his policies and (b) sustainability of the finding that the default strategy to deal with significant increases in patient demand within a slowly increasing budget is by expecting NHS staff to work more intensively, in more stressful working environments, for pay that continues to decrease in real terms.

Mr Philip Dunne: The dedication and sheer hard work of our National Health Service staff is absolutely crucial to delivering world-class care for patients. We know the entire health care team always put patients first and want to know they will have the right number of colleagues working alongside them in hospital or in the community. NHS organisations spend around two thirds of their entire expenditure on pay – ensuring the NHS has the staff it relies crucially on, controlling pay and making every penny count for the benefit of patients. We are investing £21.9 billion in nominal case terms and £10 billion in real terms to fund the NHS's own plan for the future. The inbuilt pressure of incremental pay for Agenda for Change staff is over £580 million a year, on top of annual pay awards. We know pay restraint is challenging for staff, but a longitudinal study carried out by the Department on the earnings of Agenda for Change staff found that the total earnings of staff employed in the NHS in 2010 and still employed in 2015 increased by an average of between 1.7% and 2.9% per year, depending on staff group. The average annual Consumer Price Index figure over the same period was 2.4%. It is also important to point out that average earnings of NHS staff as a whole remains well above the national average salary for 2015 of £27,500 a year and has increased by more than annual pay awards. The 2016 NHS Staff Survey shows that despite the challenges overall staff engagement continues to improve for the majority of Agenda for Change staff. The Department’s longitudinal study can be found at Annex B of its evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body ‘Earnings change for Agenda for Change contracted employees 2010-2015 – a longitudinal study’ :https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-for-the-nhsprb-pay-round-2017-to-2018

NHS: Pay

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the NHS Pay Review Body: 30th Report, Cm9440, what plans he has to allow greater flexibility in the NHS pay policy.

Mr Philip Dunne: In our written evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body for the 2017/18 pay round we made clear that there was insufficient evidence that targeting an average of 1% would make a material difference to the recruitment, retention and motivation of Agenda for Change staff. On this basis it recommended a uniform 1% award which the Government accepted.

Dental Services: Registration

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications to the National Dental Performers List are awaiting processing.

David Mowat: NHS England advise that there are currently 24 Dental Foundation Training applications from the March 2017 cohort to join the Dental Performer List waiting to be processed. There are 285 other applications being processed from dentists who qualified outside of England or who have not previously provided National Health Service primary dental care in England.

Dental Services: Children

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2017 to Question 66939, on dental services: children, for what reason his Department does not hold any data for children before 31 December 2015.

David Mowat: The Department does hold data on the number of children seen by an National Health Service dentist before 31 December 2015 but not the data requested in the previous Question. The hon. Member asked how many children were seen by a NHS dentist in each 12 month period that his Department held data for. Data for children seen in a 12 month period is not available for earlier periods but between 31 March 2006 and 31 December 2015 data was collected on the number of children seeing an NHS dentist in a 24 month period. This data is set out in the attached table.The change in the measurement period was to align with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on the maximum recommended interval of routine check-ups for children. For adults the maximum recall period is 24 months so this remains the period used for adults.



PQ70318 attached document
(Word Document, 15.76 KB)

General Practitioners: Closures

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how NHS England makes a judgement on the financial sustainability of a GP practice when considering whether to close it.

David Mowat: General practitioners (GPs) are independent contractors and hold responsibility for managing the business. It is for the partners of GP practices to make judgements on the financial sustainability of their practices. If a partnership becomes financially less viable, it is for the partnership to decide whether the financial risks are worth continuing to take. The practice may make the decision to merge with another practice or federate, in order to create back office efficiencies and provide primary care at scale. Alternatively, the partnership may at this point choose to hand back its contract. NHS England would not close the practice. The General Medical Services (GMS) Regulations 2015 govern how NHS England commissions primary care. These regulations restrict from whom NHS England can commission. For example, they prohibit NHS England from commissioning from a practice that has declared bankruptcy. They also require NHS England to terminate a contract with an individual practitioner or remove a partner in a partnership agreement if that individual is declared bankrupt.

Veterans: Mental Health Services

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of treatment and care for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems.

David Mowat: Last year NHS England conducted an audit of their veterans’ mental health services to capture and build on best practice. They sought the views and experiences of the people that access these services first hand, through a national engagement exercise.NHS England launched the new transition, intervention and liaison veterans’ mental health service on 1 April. This new service has been designed specifically to support and treat both veterans and also service personnel who are approaching discharge.Further information can be found on the NHS Choices website:http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Militaryhealthcare/veterans-families-reservists/Pages/veterans-mental-health.aspx

Smoking

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the number of people who (a) have been smokers in each of the last five years and (b) quit smoking in the last 12 months.

Nicola Blackwood: The estimated number of adult smokers in England over 18 years old in each of the last five years (based on the size of the population at that time) is shown in the table below. 20118.4 million20128.2 million20137.8 million20147.7 million20157.3 million The most recent evidence from the University College London Smoking Toolkit Study estimates that 33% of adult smokers (approximately 2.4 million) over the age of 16 tried to quit in the last 12 months, 8% successfully (approximately 584,000).

Meningitis: Vaccination

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to (a) increase the take-up of the meningitis vaccine and (b) otherwise prevent meningitis.

Nicola Blackwood: Prevention of meningococcal disease is primarily achieved by vaccination. Two vaccines have been recently added to the national programme that help protect against meningitis and septicaemia; the meningitis B vaccine for babies and the meningitis ACWY programme for school leavers and university students. Public Health England (PHE) actively promotes these vaccination programmes and achieves high uptake rates in the routine setting. PHE provides extensive guidance and support to the National Health Service on the implementation of the vaccination programmes, and producing leaflets, posters and other online materials publicising the vaccinations for both the public and NHS staff. All key immunisation materials include information on the recognition and urgent treatment for meningitis and septicaemia. In addition, extensive media coverage took place when the programmes were launched in national newspapers, broadcast via television and radio, and online media. The Men ACWY vaccination also has a targeted Facebook campaign in support of the NHS Choices University Health promotion aimed at freshers, international students and parents of students. We are liaising with Meningitis Now and The Meningitis Research Foundation to maximise publicity at universities with Universities UK, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service and the Student Union.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of accident and emergency patients were treated within four hours in (a) Calderdale Royal Hospital, (b) Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Mr Philip Dunne: The percentage of accident and emergency (A&E) patients who were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours of arrival in Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust and in England, is shown in the table below. Data are available at trust, but not individual site level. Percentage of patients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours of arrival at A&E Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation TrustEngland2011-1296.1%96.6%2012-1395.4%95.9%2013-1495.4%95.7%2014-1594.5%93.6%2015-1693.9%91.9% Source: A&E Attendance and Emergency Admissions, NHS EnglandNote: Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust includes Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary

Ambulance Services: Yorkshire and the Humber

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedic call-outs were delayed in each of the last five years due to the required police assistance not being available.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS: Pay

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of lifting the NHS pay cap and allowing the NHS Pay Review Body to set pay increases.

Mr Philip Dunne: In setting the public sector pay policy, the Government struck a balance between giving hard working staff a pay rise and the need to exercise restraint in public spending. The independent NHS Pay Review Body and the independent Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration took evidence from the Government, NHS Employers, National Health Service trade unions and other stakeholders and made recommendations on the level of pay needed to recruit and retain NHS staff. This year the Government accepted the Review Bodies’ recommendations of a pay rise of 1% for all staff groups.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 16520, how much of the £1.4 billion available over the course of this Parliament to transform children and young people's mental health has been allocated to date.

Nicola Blackwood: NHS England has informed us that, to date, £380 million of the £1.4 billion funding available from 2016 to 2021, to transform children and young people’s mental health services has been allocated to clinical commissioning groups.

Surgery

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average cost to the NHS of a (a) hip replacement, (b) knee replacement, (c) cataract operation and (d) hernia operation in 2016-17.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information requested is not yet available.

NHS: Staff

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average cost to the NHS of employing one (a) nurse, (b) midwife, (c) doctor and (d) GP in 2016-17.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 November 2016 to Question 50243. Estimates of the average cost of employing one nurse, midwife, doctor and general practitioner in 2016/17 are not yet available.

NHS Trusts: Temporary Employment

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total expenditure of NHS trusts on agency and contract staff was in each year since 2009-10; and how much NHS trusts plan to spend on such staff in 2017-18.

Mr Philip Dunne: The total costs to National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts of agency staff since 2013-14 are shown in the table below. It is not possible to provide equivalent figures for 2009-10 to 2012-13 due to a change in the data collection.  2013-14 (£ million)2014-15 (£ million)2015-16 (£ million)Total costs2,5893,1893,632 My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State introduced a series of measures to bring agency spending back under control in 2015. As a result, at Quarter 3 2016-17, the NHS had spent £500 million less than at the same point in the previous year. NHS Improvement recently wrote to trusts outlining a series of additional measures to curb spending on medical locums, including increased transparency of rates paid to highest earners, improved managerial oversight, and work with the Royal Colleges to bring locums into the substantive workforce. Further, there is a national target to reduce medical agency expenditure by £150 million in 2017/18. All trusts will be required to agree an improvement target on medical locum spending with NHS Improvement, and many are already setting ambitious plans.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) children were admitted to adult inpatient mental health wards and (b) children and young people were diagnosed with a mental health problem in accident and emergency departments in each year since 2009-10.

Nicola Blackwood: The information is not held in the format requested.

Heart Diseases

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the rate of admissions to hospital with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of coronary heart disease has been per 100,000 population in each of the last 10 years as recorded by the Hospitals Episodes Statistics database for (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people who have been admitted to hospital with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of coronary heart disease has been per 100,000 population in each of the last 10 years as recorded by the Hospitals Episodes Statistics database for (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation.

David Mowat: The information requested is attached.



PQ71515 attached document
(Excel SpreadSheet, 120.73 KB)

Heart Diseases

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many finished discharge episodes with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of coronary heart disease there were in each of the last 10 years in (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation.

David Mowat: The information requested is attached.



PQ71526 attached table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 59.13 KB)

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia in (a) England and (b) each local commissioning organisation in 2016.17.

Nicola Blackwood: Data on the numbers of people diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia in England and local commissioning organisations is not centrally held. Public Health England has established the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS) which brings together data from existing regional and disease specific registries into a single register. A certain form of familial hypercholesterolemia - homozygous FH - is classified as a rare disease and so is included in NCARDRS. Further information can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-national-congenital-anomaly-and-rare-disease-registration-service-ncardrs

Women and Equalities

Equality Advisory and Support Service

John Mann: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what data the Equality and Advisory Support Service holds on the (a) number, (b) frequency and (c) nature of the calls that that service receives.

Caroline Dinenage: The Equality Advisory and Support Service compiles and makes publicly available extensive management information about contact it receives from the public. This information includes: the volume of calls; the number of individual callers; the protected characteristic relevant to the query or complaint; the field of potential discrimination raised or complained about, for instance employment or the provision of services; contacts by geographical area; and the nature of the query or complaint itself, e.g. whether it might constitute direct or indirect discrimination, harassment or victimisation.

Government Equalities Office: Secondment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many staff are seconded to the Government Equalities Office; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government Equalities Office currently has one member of staff on secondment. They are on secondment from the Big Lottery Fund, a Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Equal Pay: West Yorkshire

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the gender pay gap for (a) Calderdale and (b) West Yorkshire was in each year since 2005.

Caroline Dinenage: The Office of National Statistics publishes the median hourly pay figures set out below, based on place of residence, annually. To accelerate the rate of progress, the Government has introduced mandatory gender pay gap reporting for large employers.  a) Calderdale  YearFemale median hourly pay (£)Male median hourly pay (£)Gender pay gap (%)20058.639.509.2%2006*8.869.9110.6%20079.0010.5915.0%20089.3611.5318.8%20099.4911.7719.4%201010.4711.277.1%2011*10.6111.336.4%201210.4313.5022.7%201310.2312.6018.8%201410.2912.4017.0%201510.4911.9412.1%201611.4812.538.4% b) West YorkshireYearFemale median hourly pay (£)Male median hourly pay (£)Gender pay gap (%)20057.949.8419.3%2006*8.2110.1018.7%20078.5510.5018.6%20088.7610.8919.6%20099.1311.1117.8%20109.5211.3015.8%2011*9.5211.2115.1%20129.6511.5016.1%20139.9111.6915.2%20149.8411.6515.5%20159.9511.9516.7%201610.3312.4617.1%

Plain English

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2017 to Question 66217, on plain English, how the Government ensures that both public and private sector service providers fulfil their duties under the Equality Act 2010 on accommodating users who require content published in an easy-read format.

Caroline Dinenage: It is for each public authority and private sector service provider to ensure that it acts in compliance with the Equality Act 2010. For the public sector this includes fulfilling the public sector equality duty, which requires public sector bodies to have due regard to the need to:a) Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act;b) Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; andc) Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it If individuals feel that they have experienced discrimination, for example through the failure to make reasonable adjustments such as provision of information in a specific format, they may bring an action themselves either through the courts or through the Employment Tribunal Service.   The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an independent statutory body which has specific legislative powers to monitor and enforce the Equality Act 2010. For example, it can issue an unlawful act notice against an employer or service provider if it is satisfied that they have breached the Act; or assist an individual who is or may become party to legal proceedings where that individual alleges he or she is the victim of a breach of the Act.

Government Equalities Office: Conditions of Employment

Rob Marris: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many and what proportion of staff employed by her Department are employed on a contract which is (a) full-time permanent, (b) part-time permanent, (c) for less than two years' duration, (d) on an agency basis and (e) zero-hours.

Caroline Dinenage: The table below shows data on how many and what proportion of staff are employed by the Department for Education (DfE), on a contract which is full-time permanent and part-time permanent. The permanent headcount figures include staff who are on fixed-term contracts and have been employed for over 1 year but under 2 years. The fixed term/temporary figure shows staff on fixed-term contracts who have been employed for less than 1 year.The total figure for (c) is therefore 212. Agency workers are not employees of DfE and have therefore not been included. DfE does not employ any staff on zero hours contracts.  Mar-17DfEGEOPaid headcount469755FT Permanent (a)394144PT Permanent (b)66010Of Permanent (c)   FT contract (less than 2 years)340Other FT contract1090Fixed Term/Temporary (c)690

Castes: Discrimination

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has consulted employers and entrepreneurs on the potential effect of caste legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: On 28 March the Government issued a public consultation – ‘Caste in Great Britain and Equality Law’ - on the issue of caste and caste discrimination and the Equalities Act 2010.The consultation is due to close on 18 July and can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/caste-in-great-britain-and-equality-law-a-public-consulation We encourage all those with an interest in this matter, including employers and entrepreneurs, to contribute to this debate by considering the issues set out in the consultation and responding.